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Please do not touch – A clear message, yet one that is currently not being communicated efficiently in museums.

You might think: surely everyone understands that you aren't allowed to just touch things in museums? Yet, this happens regularly. This was evident recently when Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen made the news due to a damaged Rothko painting.

I have written my bachelor's thesis on how unauthorized touching of objects in museums can be prevented.

The research began during my time as a host & museum attendant at Design Museum Den Bosch. During my first week of work, two visitors sat down on a Rietveld chair, and many similar situations followed. What I experienced there surprised and fascinated me so much that I immediately began my research by observing.

Through theoretical research and a survey, I mapped out the current situation in museums and created an overview of why visitors touch objects. The reasons are diverse and more complex than what has been applied so far. I have translated this into the design process. By combining all findings with proven design methods, four solutions were created to influence this human behavior. One solution, named The Seating Fence, is fully explained with sketches and models.

Currently I am realizing The Seating Fence to test it in practice.

Interested in this research? Send an email to receive the entire thesis.