Client: Dallas Museum of Art | Location: Dallas, TX
Museums teach visitors early on: don't touch. So what happens when a museum builds a space that asks them to? Building on earlier visitor research, the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) designed Artports, seating areas in the galleries with hands-on games and puzzles, iPads with artwork stories, books, and phone chargers. Before scaling them up across the museum, DMA wanted to know how visitors were using them, and how to make them better.
THE PROJECT
We conducted prototype testing of two Artports in the DMA's galleries, the second phase of a two-part study to inform the museum's interpretive strategy.
THE APPROACH
Over two days in June 2026, we:
Observed and interviewed 25 visitor groups (with and without kids) using the Artports, to see which elements drew people in and which went unnoticed.
Interviewed the same groups to learn what they valued, what confused them, and how comfortable the seating felt.
Mixed cued and uncued visitors, so we could learn both how people respond to the Artports and what attracts them on their own.
WHAT WE LEARNED
Visitors want explicit permission to touch. Several didn't realize the Artports were meant to be used; for example, a few thought the books and clipboards were staff materials. Clear, inviting signage is the first fix.
Being able to sit and rest is a feature, not a side benefit. Visitors valued a comfortable seat near the art most of all– a place to recharge while still taking in the works around them.
Hands-on activities appealed to all ages. Puzzles and games entertained kids and gave caregivers a moment with the art– but adults without kids enjoyed them too!
On the iPads, choice was more important than length. Visitors were split on whether they wanted quick facts or a deeper dive, but most agreed that what mattered most was having the option to choose.
Overall, it’s a great concept that needs a little refining. Every participant said the Artports added to their visit, pointing DMA toward tweaks to signage, seating, and placement rather than a new direction entirely.
“The culture of museums is don't touch things, so I don't know if I would automatically be like, ‘Oh, you can sit there or you can write on that, or you can touch all these things.’ So, give me some signage.”
-Visitor quote
