An exhibit developed to increase awareness and educate about a topic will traditionally consist of a variety of elements such as: displays, participatory elements, artefacts and panels. Information panels, in particular, are almost always present and are an essential part of successfully communicating and clarifying the information presented by the exhibit. For this reason it is important to optimize the design of the information panels to ensure the highest value according to the goals set for an exhibit.
This study conducted a comparative analysis of the effect of three information panels about headaches. All panels contained the same information, but each was designed from a different approach. One was a traditional didactic design, the second used a more graphic representational style, and the third was designed from a narrative pedagogical perspective.
The educational value and visual appeal of these three panels were evaluated and compared by surveying a random selection of mainly students and staff from the University of Otago. The results are most applicable for an academic audience, and further investigation would be needed to determine to evaluate the similarities or discrepancies for a broader audience. Participants (N = 204) were all surveyed at various times and places on campus grounds at the University of Otago. The evaluation of increased knowledge after looking at one of the panels was limited to investigation of on site improvement and no follow-up survey for longer retention was conducted.
Results indicate that a panel being read in its entirety does not function as a good indicator for educational value and should be evaluated alongside additional factors such as appreciation and other learning outcomes.
This study additionally suggested that a more graphic and creative approach to designing information panels could increase the educational potential, as long as the design remained focused on readability and targeting the audience of the exhibit. The most important characteristics were: readability, clarity and simplicity, a balanced ratio between text and image, and colours.
