03
Reshaping Heimat Museums
Unlocking Culture & Community in Switzerland
About
This project aimed to improve the relevance and visitation rates of regional “Heimat” museums in Switzerland. It sought to understand the factors driving low museum attendance and identify opportunities for revitalization, emphasizing the museum's role as a vital community resource.
For a more in-detail overview of this project, click below to be redirected to a google folder:
Role
Design Manager
Client
Historisches Museum Obwalden
Team
02 Museum advisors
01 Supervisor
Timeline
The project was executed between Q4 - 2020 and Q1 Q2 - 2021
The following personal skills were implemented during this project:
Service Design
Ethnographic reserach
Workshop facilitation
Data Analysis
Graphic Design
Cross-cultural competence
Context
As part of my bachelor's research thesis, I led the project in collaboration with the Historisches Museum Obwalden. Our primary focus was on engaging local volunteers, many of whom were foreign residents, as key stakeholders.
Through this project, we aimed to boost transformation within the museum to better serve visitors and the community.
Goal
The goal of this project is to identify strategic intervention points that enhance the role of "Heimat" museums in serving their communities through participatory practices.
Our ultimate objective was to facilitate trans-cultural exchange and enhance the accessibility of historical and cultural content, with a specific focus on engaging underrepresented local communities, particularly foreign national residents that have been living in Obwalden for many years.
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Declining Relevance & Engagement
Declining visitor numbers and reduced cultural relevance.
02
Underutilization of Public Resources
Museums weren’t fulfilling their potential as community resources.
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Disconnected Visitor Experience
Exhibits felt disconnected and unrelatable to today’s audiences.
Client's Problems
Design Process
The design process encompassed several key stages.
It started with a comprehensive Museum Partner Assessment and desk research, followed by ethnographic analyses involving on-site museum observations and interviews with primary stakeholders, including foreign nationals residing in Obwalden and museum personnel.
These diverse data sources were synthesized, leading to a several collaborative co-creation session with stakeholders, which played a pivotal role in generating the right outcome.
Qualitative Research and Participatory Approach
To ensure relevance and inclusivity, the project was guided by a participatory and research-driven process, involving both local residents and cultural experts.
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Barriers to participation, especially for non-visiting residents (e.g. language, relevance, accessibility).
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A need for more inclusive narratives that reflect the diversity of the local community.
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Gaps between the museum’s current offerings and the expectations of modern audiences.
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Opportunities to reposition the museum as an active cultural space, not just a static archive.
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Institutional limitations and possibilities for strategic change from the perspective of professionals in culture and design.
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Involving the Neighbours
To better understand why local residents were not engaging with the museum, we conducted a participatory workshop with foreign residents from the neighborhood—many of whom had never visited the museum before.
We explored their perceptions, needs, and expectations, uncovering both emotional and practical barriers to participation.
These neighbors were actively involved throughout the research, offering feedback and suggesting ideas for a more inclusive museum experience.
Expert Consultations
To complement the community perspective, we engaged with a range of experts and institutional stakeholders.
This included the staff of the Historisches Museum Obwalden, the director of Tal Museum, a representative from the Obwalden culture department, and specialists in design, museology, and institutional change.
These conversations helped us understand internal constraints, current strategies, and opportunities for innovation—ensuring our design response was grounded in realistic, systemic understanding as well as user needs.
Outcome
The research project's culmination is the "Obwaldner KulturLab,"
It is vibrant social space promoting transcultural exchange and cultural experimentation. It involves residents, artists, historians, and regional museums, and more.
Open to all, the KulturLab encourages participation and leadership, fostering social cohesion, empowering underrepresented minorities, and providing museums with a platform to adapt and better engage with the community.
This initiative represents a pioneering effort in enriching Obwalden's cultural landscape and strengthening community bonds.
Reflection
Leading this design project, the most rewarding aspect was engaging with the passionate individuals of Obwalden committed to enhancing their community and supporting the museum's transformation.
My role involved facilitating dialogue and mediating activities that sparked valuable conversations.
It was truly fulfilling to witness the positive impact achieved through the dedication of these community members, emphasizing the transformative potential of user-centric design principles in cultural institutions and communities. This experience reinforced the profound impact of design on social and cultural change.
Inspired change!
This picture captures a vibrant scene in the heart of Sarnen, Obwalden, during the summer of 2023. In the background, the event "Miär Machid Plätz" ("We Make Space") is in full swing, organized by the municipality in collab with the Historisches Museum Obwalden. The event brings locals together in a series of cultural events. A wonderful way of making culture accessible to people while promoting social cohesion!
Sources: Find sources on documentation, linked on top.