The permanent exhibition, ‘Utopia Now: The Story of Finnish Design’ highlights the importance of visitor engagement – both inside and outside the museum, through digital engagement.

For the first time ever, over 1,000 years of history is collated in a digital exhibition, focussing on professionalism in the design field in both Finland and abroad. The information is projected as a timeline over three walls within the museum and showcases materials that have never before been accessible to the public in one place, since the museum’s opening in 1873.

Visitor experience is enhanced by clear spatial design, guiding people through the museum’s exhibition spaces, as the as well as through on screen, search-friendly content that complements the exhibit. (including 120,000 images, 75,000 objects and 45,000 drawings). This, in turn, heightens personal relevance, ensuring that items within the collection are more discoverable, shareable and engaging, while enhancing visitors’ ability to provide feedback and join debate.

Now, people can participate much more widely and more deeply with the digitised collection, alongside the physical content exhibited. Digital content continues to enhance and deepen the exhibition experience by taking into account the museum’s different user groups, from tourists to schoolchildren. With more discoverable content comes greater education and delight. When audiences actively participate, they’ll engage with content for longer – and return more often.

A key digital experience is the Marimekko installation, which lets visitors choose a Marimekko pattern and animate it. Projected onto a large, curved wall, this immersive space encourages people to take selfies and share the fun.

Digital applications also collate data on visitor interaction and behaviour. This dynamic digital portrait provides the museum with real-time information on public interactivity and can inform the museum’s future strategies for visitor growth and collections.