DIE NEUE SAMMLUNG – THE DESIGN MUSEUM STARTS THE PROJECT “AN INCLUSIVE DESIGN EXPERIENCE”

The press release is available in the following versions:
− Text in A2 German as barrier-free PDF
− Text in A2 English as barrier-free PDF
− Text in C1 German as barrier-free PDF
− Text in C1 English as barrier-free PDF
− The video in German sign language:
Deutsche Gebärdensprache  


With a barrier-free programme that interlinks analogue and digital levels of mediation Die Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum is opening itself up to a broader circle of visitors and thus updating its social mission: to make good design accessible to all people.
The project “An inclusive Design Experience“ which started in February 2022 aims to convey a part of the collection via videos with translation into sign language and subtitles, via audio descriptions as well as via text at different language levels to read or listen to. These new services are offered particularly to people with hearing and visual impairments, language comprehension difficulties or cognitive impairments, but they are of course freely available to all visitors. In this way, objects can be experienced in a self-determined way via the various mediation modes according to individual needs. The content will be provided digitally and can be accessed on site at the exhibited objects. In addition, the information will also be provided in English. Therefore, the project is aimed at a broad international audience and offers digital access to one of the world’s most important collections of design history.
Die Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum already took its first steps towards accessibility and inclusion in 2020 by offering texts in easy-to-read language, which are available in analogue, digital and audio formats. The new project is intended to explore all available possibilities of barrier-free digital mediation and exemplifies how the social promise of inclusion could be realised in the State Museums of Bavaria. For this purpose, the starting position with its deficits and development potentials is analysed with the involvement of the target groups and an agenda for the project is defined. In addition to accessibility in the communication of content, this also concerns physical accessibility in the museum rooms. For example, the range of services and the infrastructure in the museum are to be expanded to include tactile objects and digital guidance systems for the blind.
The initiators of the project are Prof. Dr. Angelika Nollert, director of Die Neue Sammlung, and Dr. Caroline Fuchs, curator and responsible for the project. A new position was created for the project management of “An inclusive Design Experience” which is held by the art historian and cultural manager Frauke Maria Petry since February. She brings with her experience in the field of digital art education, which she gained in Berlin and Düsseldorf. The house
continues to receive professional support in the field of inclusion through “capito Munich”. This location of the capito network is part of the museum agency “ARGUS! Kultur&Kommunikation. Dr. Jörg Haller will contribute his expertise in the field of communicative and physical accessibility as a cooperation partner of the project.
By working with experts in the field of inclusion and through the participation of target groups, the highest quality standards will be achieved. With its expertise and vision, Die Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum can contribute to the requirements of a contemporary museum.
“An inclusive Design Experience” is funded by the Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst. Accessible infrastructures and content that are established through “An inclusive design experience” will be maintained after the end of the project. In this way, the concept and attitude of the museum towards “Inclusion & Museum” are secured in the long term and the digital strategy of the museum is continued.

Team „Design inklusiv erleben“:
Prof. Dr. Angelika Nollert
director, Die Neue Sammlung
Dr. Caroline Fuchs
curator, Die Neue Sammlung
Dr. Jörg Haller
capito München
Frauke Maria Petry
project management „An inclusive Design Experience“



Radio “Simple Music Player” for dementia patients, 2014 Design and manufacture: E2L Products Ltd., Monmouth, Great Britain
Photo: Die Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum, Munich (K. Mewes) Courtesy Die Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum, Munich