Designing the Future of Museums : National Museum of Finland

Abstract

Societal changes, political climate, digitalization and new technological innovations are developing the ways we interact with each other and our cultural heritage. Our consumption patterns are transformed and shaped by smart devices – yet our perceptions of museums remain antiquated. Thus, the question is, what kind of meanings we attach to museums in the future? What kind of concepts can we develop to reach this goal? Museums have been doing excellent work in preserving our national and cultural heritage, but as a side effect, we have collectively typecast them as repositories for the past. The report exhibits foresight into innovative opportunities to be seized by The Museum in the future both conceptual and practical levels. Group of IDBM students from Aalto University collaborated with National Museum of Finland. Students developed concepts for future Museum of Cultures in two multidisciplinary teams. The represented disciplines are business, technology and design. Even though the report focuses on the Museum of Cultures, the results are scalable to address the future of museums in general.