Introduction
The Lyman Allyn Art Museum (LAAM)
Design Project is a dynamic, interdisciplinary initiative developed within the ART 310: Design in Public Practice course at Connecticut College during the Fall 2024 semester.
The project focuses on creating innovative, inclusive, and sustainable design solutions to enhance community engagement at LAAM.
Drawing on methods from social design and service design, students tackled key challenges rooted in the New London community. This booklet chronicles their journey, from in-depth research to the presentation of final proposals.
Design Team
Althea Tierney ‘25
Major: Studio Art and Architectural Studies
Center: Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology
Eleni Georgalos ‘26
Major: Minor:
Center/Pathway:
Mackensie Park ‘26
Major: Studio Art, Architectural Studies
Minor: East Asian Studies
Sam Groleau ‘25
Major: Architectural Studies
Minor: Environmental Studies
Bianca Falcone ‘25
Major: Studio Art and Psychology Center/Pathway: Creativity Pathway
Kellyn Scheel ‘27
Major: Computer Science
Minors: Art & Mathematics Center/Pathway: Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology
Chloe Schlesselman ‘26
Major: Studio Art, Architectural Studies
Minor: Dance
Kinley Yangden ‘25
Major: Architectural Studies and Art History
Minor: Environmental Studies
Center/Pathway: Social Justice and Sustainability Pathway
Maged Hassan ’25
Major: Education Administration; Quantitative Economics and Econometrics; Architectural Studies Center/Pathway: Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation, Value and Change
Mary Rizzo ‘26
Major: Studio Art
Minor: Botany Center/Pathway: Museum Studies
Skylar Gould ‘26
Major: Studio Art and American Studies Center/Pathway: Museum Studies Certificate Program
Andrea Wollensak
Professor of Art
Associate Fellow of Community Engagement at the Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology
Lyman Allyn Art Museum
Mission Statement
The Lyman Allyn Art Museum strives to make art enjoyable, inspirational and accessible to the people of New London, New England and beyond. We preserve, enhance, display and illuminate a collection of fine and decorative arts, held in trust for the public and in accordance with the highest ethical standards and practices. We are driven by a commitment to make our museum a gathering place for learning and the passionate exchange of ideas that educate, enrich and resonate with the lives of all in our communities. Our goal is to reveal the power of art with thought-provoking exhibitions and dynamic programs in and around our historic buildings and grounds.
History and Background
The Lyman Allyn Art Museum (LAAM), founded in 1932 through a bequest by Harriet Upson Allyn in honor of her father, Captain Lyman Allyn, stands as a cornerstone of Southeastern Connecticut’s vibrant cultural heritage. Housing over 17,000 works, primarily European and American art, the museum showcases unique exhibitions like Louis Comfort Tiffany in New London and features
attractions such as its enchanting Outdoor Sculpture Garden. Over the years, LAAM has evolved into a vital hub for art, education, and community engagement, welcoming diverse audiences into its inviting spaces. Throughout the year, the museum offers a rich array of programs, including exhibition openings, lectures, educational workshops, and musical events, fostering connections with families and the wider public.
Looking Ahead: The Lyman Allyn Park Project
The museum is further expanding its reach with the creation of the Lyman Allyn Park, a transformative 12-acre urban green space designed to link art, community, and sustainability. It will have walking trails, outdoor learning areas, rotating art installations, and event spaces, building cultural involvement and environmental awareness. This project is set to invigorate New London, offering a vibrant, accessible resource for families, creatives, and visitors while advancing LAAM’s mission of inclusivity and inspiration.
Social Design
Social Design
Social design is a collaborative, human-centered approach to addressing community challenges with a focus on sustainability and inclusivity. By prioritizing the needs of diverse stakeholders, it seeks to create solutions that improve quality of life and foster meaningful connections. In this project, social design principles guided students in developing innovative strategies to enhance the accessibility and engagement with the Lyman Allyn Art Museum within the New London community.
Principles of Social Design
Human-centered: The experiences of the people affected by the service are foregrounded.
Collaborative: Diverse stakeholders engage in the design process.
Iterative: Ideas are continually tested and refined to seek the best solutions.
Sequential: Design effort is organized as a series of connected actions.
Real: Solutions must be grounded in realworld needs and contexts.
Holistic: Solutions must address needs for all stakeholders sustainably.
Double Diamond Process and supporting methods
The British Design Council designed the Double Diamond process as a guideline for problem-solving and innovation. The four phases of the process—Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver—are set up around two “diamonds” that denote divergent and convergent thinking. This framework helped structure the Lyman Allyn Art Museum design project by organizing research, ideation, and implementation of the student’s work.
Discover: Research and user insights. Define: Problem identification and refinement. Develop: Ideation and prototype testing. Deliver: Implementation and final solutions.
Students applied these principles in a series of interactive activities designed to uncover challenges and develop innovative solutions:
Ethnographic Research: The students studied themselves through autoethnography, observing and reflecting on their experiences at LAAM in order to identify potential barriers and opportunities.
Interviews: Teams conducted semi-structured interviews with target groups such as families, teens, and creatives to learn about their points of view, needs, and challenges. Such conversations have helped in creating insights and uncovering emotional connections.
Workshop Facilitation: In co-creation workshops, the students invited stakeholders to jointly generate and develop ideas. This will allow different kinds of input to be put forward and evoke a feeling of shared ownership.
Persona Development: Teams, by using insights from interviews and research, created user personas and empathy maps to visualize the needs and challenges of each target group and ensure that the proposed solutions would be user-focused
Testing and Prototyping: Students in making the low-resolution prototype of the proposed solutions did a test with different stakeholders, acquiring feedback on the improvement of ideas. Results: Solution ideas were put into practical, iterative testing for enhancement.
The Double Diamond model. Created at the British Design Council.
evoking wonder through art intergenerational conversations experiences creativity communities inspiration storytelling through objects accessible and open to everybody collaboration
Design Challenge
The design challenge focuses on creating a broad range of programming that reaches a more diverse audience, including visitors to the new Lyman Allyn Park, and addresses the historical lack of racial inclusiveness in the museum’s activities, as outlined in LAAM’s Multicultural Action Plan.
The goal is to design strategies that increase community engagement and ensure marginalized communities are represented in learning and engagement programs. By expanding and connecting multicultural programming, the project aims to enhance LAAM’s role as a dynamic educational and cultural destination for the greater New London community.
Focus Areas
Students focused on three key target groups, each with different needs and opportunities:
Families in New London
Engaging intergenerational groups to make visits to the museum more interactive and inviting.
Teens, 12-17 years old
Addressing the deficit of creative outlets and safe places within the community for selfexpression and constructive use of time.
Creatives aged 25-45 years
Establishing a link between the museum and local artists for the provision of various platforms for showcases and community building.
12-17 Year Olds in New London
Althea Tierney
Eleni Georgalos
Kellyn Scheel
Maged Hassan
Discover
The research wall compiled insights to understand the museum’s current state and its connection with our target group. It included observations of the museum’s atmosphere, use of space, signage, interactive elements, online presence, and comparisons of teen programming at other Connecticut museums. We also surveyed New London High School students, who ranked potential museum programs and exhibitions. Teens preferred eye-catching, interactive exhibitions and comfortable, welcoming spaces. Additionally, interviews with art teachers and the LAAM director of learning and engagement provided valuable perspectives on program possibilities and needs.
Define
We synthesized insights from focus groups with New London High School students and conversations with school staff, art teachers, and museum staff. Students expressed a desire for hands-on activities, vibrant spaces, and a casual, collaborative atmosphere. Staff highlighted the importance of creative programs that build skills and connect to real-world applications, while museum staff acknowledged challenges in programming, access, communication, and the formality of the space.
These findings shaped problem statements and “How Might We” questions, such as, “How might we help teens feel this is their museum?” and “How might we curate exhibits relevant to teens?” Proposed solutions include collaborative murals, teen advisory boards, and interactive exhibits focused on identity and social justice to foster a dynamic, inclusive, and engaging space.
“How might we help teens feel that this is their musuem?”
Develop
The following are solution proposals for the engagement of New London teens at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum: A Collaborative Mural Project allows teens to add art over time, creating ownership and community and reflecting their interests in identity or social issues. This would include an enhanced interactive exhibit through touchscreens, QR codes linking to short videos, and curated playlists that would create a dynamic and engaging experience within the museum.
Pop-up exhibitions in parks or cafes led by teens will help teens use their creativity and make the museum more accessible. Workshops and open studios-designed with local artists and college students-would allow teens to practice skills in graffiti, photography, and design. Lastly, hybrid engagement programs-like virtual art competitions whose selected works would be displayed in the museum-will ensure accessibility while celebrating teen creativity. These represent very workable and comprehensive ways in which LAAM could be remade into a hotbed of teenage activity and interest.
Deliver
Based on the feedback from Lyman Allyn staff on our “how might we” questions and proposed solutions, we gained valuable insights into realistic long-term strategies for making the museum a more desirable place for teens. Our group brainstormed ways to enhance accessibility and interactivity. Kellyn Scheel designed an app that offers navigation features and detailed information about exhibits. Althea Tierney developed a teen art competition to showcase teen art at the museum. Maged Hassan created art challenge prompts to engage teens with the exhibits. Eleni Georgalos introduced free, self-directed activities in the park for teens to explore and express their creativity.
Teen Art Wall
Althea Tierney
How Might We...
foster a sense of belonging in the LAAM for teens?
Solution
Teens create art in response to a prompt about the permanent collection and submit their art to the Lyman Allyn through an online form. Students in the Museum Studies program and Connecticut College and available museum interns volunteer as project facilitators. Project facilitators coordinate with the museum, prepare printed materials, monitor submissions, and curate a temporary exhibition of the teen art to be displayed prominently in the hall or library of the LAAM. The goal of the project is to draw teens to the museum, encourage engagement with the permanent collection, and get them excited about making and showing their artwork. The art wall will foster a sense of belonging in the museum and will help teens draw a personal connection to the art that may not interest them otherwise. The framework provided in the facilitator tool kit allows the project to be handed over and continue each year with minimal intervention from museum staff. The printed materials are designed to be fun and give clear directions and will
Development
We interviewed a group of New London High seniors about what art and programs would bring them to the museum. They expressed interest in viewing and making art but said the physical space of the museum was for “old people”. From these responses and a discussion with the museum staff about the limited space and resources, we aimed to foster a sense of belonging for the teens with minimal alteration of the space.
Process
This project works off of the existing art show hosted by the museum for the local high school. The exhibition is opened up to all New London teens to submit work and will be displayed prominently where all visitors can see. Partnering with students from Connecticut College helps to sustain the project and also necessitates the creation of a clear and comprehensive facilitator tool kit.
Final Proposal
The proposal includes a facilitator tool kit that outlines the project. Poster and logo designs are available to the project facilitators and may be edited and distributed. The participating teens will receive an envelope with a 8.5” x 8.5” piece of paper, drawing implements, a sticker, and a postcard with submission instructions. Art is submitted via google form that both the museum and Connecticut College students will have access to.
How Might We... integrate technology to make the museum more accessible and appealing to teens?
Solution
LAAM Connect is a mobile app designed to engage users of all ages with the Lyman Allyn Art Museum. It fosters inclusivity and creativity while connecting users with the museum digitally. The app is designed with potential for low cost development through collaboration with Computer Science students at Connecticut College.
Development
The idea for LAAM Connect stems from recognizing the lack of teen participation due to challenging access and limited digital outreach. Research into teens’ digital behavior and engagement strategies guided the design of an interactive mobile app. The goal is to create a space that not only informs but involves teens through technology, a universal form of communication, to foster deeper engagement and inclusivity.
Process
The process began with creating initial sketches and refining the app’s UI, followed by developing detailed screen layouts and navigation. User feedback was incorporated to enhance the app’s functionality, such as integrating accessibility tools and the “Local Spotlight” tab. Iterative prototyping, including live testing and adjustments, ensured the proposal’s evolution to align with both teen interests and museum goals.
Final Proposal
LAAM Connect is a user-friendly app designed to bridge the gap between teens and the museum through tailored communication and interactive experiences. Key features include a Teen Showcase for user-submitted art, a dynamic events calendar, and accessibility options. This app will engage teens and provide a centralized platform for all audiences to discover and enjoy museum activities, fostering an inclusive and vibrant community.
“ The goal is to create a space that not only informs but involves teens through technology, to foster a deeper engagement and inclusivity.”
Self-Guided Outdoor Activities at the Lyman Allyn Museum Park
Eleni Georgalos
How Might We... leverage free resources for teen-centered activities?
Solution
This project engages teens with the Lyman Allyn park, encouraging them to explore the intersection of art and nature through creative, self-directed activities. I created “activity bags” containing playful instructional booklets focused on sun printing, sketching, and creative writing, along with necessary materials.
A flyer promoting these free activities will be displayed at the front desk, and the activity bags will be stored in the cubby area alongside the sensory and sketching bags. Testing with teens revealed that completing activities in groups promotes dialogue about the respective spaces and encourages collaboration, especially during sun printing. They prefer simple, open-ended prompts and appreciate visual instructions. Engaging with their surroundings through these activities amplifies their appreciation of the park’s beauty. Even teens with limited art experience enjoyed the activities, using them as a platform to express their creativity.
The activities will be launched once the park is fully accessible. Participants can ask the receptionist for details and pick up their activity bags from the cubby. Connecticut College will provide all the materials (except clipboards) and Adobe Illustrator files for the booklets.
Development
Through my Public Design class I worked with a team focused on understanding why teens (12-17) in New London aren’t visiting the museum. Through research and interviews, we discovered that the museum doesn’t offer programs for teens. We learned that they prefer self-directed activities, spend little time outside, and lack art-making experience but are interested in creating art. Based on this, I developed a series of outdoor, self-guided activities to engage them in the new park.
Process
My design process began with identifying simple, open-ended artistic activities requiring minimal materials. I observed the park to find ideal activity locations, and created zine templates, refining font sizes, paper sizes, and layout for clarity. After meeting with teens to test the activities, I adjusted the instructions based on their feedback. I sought input from classmates to identify physical design flaws and gather suggestions for improvement, refining the proposal and prototypes throughout the process.
Final Proposal
This outdoor programming empowers teens with portable activity bags containing zines, art materials, and tools for sun printing, writing, and sketching. Free and easily accessible from the museum cubbies, these activities inspire creativity and amplify teens’ connection to art and nature, fostering lasting engagement.
“Global Perspectives in Art: Exploring History, Culture, and Expression” Enrichment Program
Maged Hassan
How Might We... leverage available resources for teen-centered programming?
Solution
“Global Perspectives in Art” is a 6-week workshop series collaboratively organized by LAAM, the Walter Commons, New London High School, and the Holleran Center. Teens will explore diverse artistic traditions and personal storytelling through exhibitions like Thuan Vu: Kintsugi in the New World, American Perspectives, and Louis Comfort Tiffany in New London. Connecticut College students will guide participants in learning international art techniques and narrative storytelling to foster creative expression and cultural understanding.
The program places LAAM as a dynamic community hub, empowering teens to view art as a universal language that bridges cultural and social divides. This pilot program lays the groundwork for a sustainable initiative to deepen young participants’ appreciation for the arts and cultures globally and locally directed by the program partners.
Proposed Schedule:
November and December 2024:
• Outline program structure and objectives.
• Conduct partner meetings and finalize Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
• Identify and confirm Connecticut College student facilitators.
January 2025, Training & Preparation:
• January 22: Training Session 1
• January 29: Training Session 2
February and March 2025, Program Facilitation:
• February 5, 12, 19, 26
• March 5, 26
“hands-on artistic exploration and cultural engagement”
Development
This project emerged from the need to address the underrepresentation of teens in museum programming, identified through observations and discussions with LAAM staff. Research on engaging youth in creative and educational activities informed the structure and focus.
Process
The design process included identifying gaps in teen engagement, brainstorming interactive program ideas, testing feasibility with LAAM staff, and iteratively refining the proposal to meet logistical and community needs.
Final Proposal
The final program is a 6-week series offering teens hands-on artistic exploration and cultural engagement. It includes mentorship, skill-building workshops, and a public showcase to highlight the participants’ achievements and promote cross-cultural dialogue.
25 to 45 Year Old Creatives in New London
Bianca Falcone
Kinley Yangden
Mary Rizzo
Discover
We began our project by doing ethnographic research on the programs offered by the museum, recording their popularity over the years and opportunities stretched out to the New London community. After understanding their past efforts, we set up interview questions with our target audiences in the New London community to understand their struggles and how to open up engagement opportunities with the museum.
Define
After collecting qualitative information from target audiences, we created a user persona and applied the potential user experience in creating a journey map. This was presented to the museum at the initial stage of concept design to gain feedback from the staff. At the end of the presentation, we received thoughtful feedback to narrow down our goal and move to the next step. Our affinity map is a collection of data about our target group that we have compiled and organized into 5 separate categories: interest, practical, knowledge, experience, and perception.
“How might we create discussion between New London community members and the museum?”
“Community outreach, exhibition engagment, and wayfinding”
Develop
From our key insights and feedback from the museum staff, we were able to develop our opportunity and problem statement. We concluded there is an opportunity to strengthen community engagement by exploring effective programing and collaborations offsite, considering innovative strategies for engagement with the permanent exhibition, and improving user navigation through wayfinding methods. This conclusion was broken down into three categories: community outreach, exhibition engagement, and wayfinding. Under each category of the problem statement we posed “How Might We” questions that guided our proposed solutions.
Deliver
We presented our findings to the museum staff, explaining our process of synthesizing the information we discovered into tangible proposals for the museum to implement. After our presentation, we left our solution proposals for the museum staff to notate with feedback for us to help guide our final project directions. Bianca Falcone designed a poster installation along a storefront commercial building in downtown New London. Mary worked with Skylar Gould to create an Artist of the Month program that progresses from digital platforms into physical work being displayed in the museum lobby. Kinley Yangden designed an interactive wayfinding brochure accessible in both English and Spanish and also directed another project, a multilingual audio with Skylar Gould to activate the permanent exhibition space.
State Street Poster Project
Bianca Falcone
How Might We... bring the LAAM to downtown New London?
Solution
The State Street Poster Project is designed to bring awareness of the Lyman Allyn Museum’s free admission to downtown New London residents and promote engagement with the Museum’s permanent exhibitions.
Development
Through informational interviews with New London creatives and insights from the Lyman Allyn Museum staff, it was apparent that individuals were unaware of the museum’s free access for New London residents. Individuals who had visited the museum before expressed visiting specifically for traveling exhibitions and less for the sake of permanent collections. These interviews sparked the idea of a promotional poster installation along empty storefronts of downtown New London.
Process
I was connected through the Holleran Center at Connecticut College to a property manager on State Street who was open to displaying posters throughout a vacant commercial building’s window space. Once visiting the site and measuring the window spaces along the building, I worked with the Lyman Allyn Museum staff creating a poster installation mock up to span across the building’s four windows. I went through various iterations working with the museum staff on the poster and installation layout to ensure the design was simple but attractive to the viewer with a clear message.
Final Proposal
Within each poster created, use of the Lyman Allyn Museum’s style guide template enhances continuity of design within the font, color, and icons selected. High resolution photographs of two works capturing the variety from the museum’s permanent collection are included, each dedicated a whole window frame poster within the installation. The museum’s tagline is legible in both English and Spanish as well as text promoting the museum’s free access for New London residents within two separate poster window frames. The large-scale spread utilizes contrasting colors to pop against the commercial New London storefronts, grabbing the attention of passersby with concise text highlighting visitor opportunities within the Lyman Allyn Museum.
“How might we bring the LAAM to downtown New London?”
Interactive Brochure
Kinley Yangden
How Might We... make the museum navigation more accessible and user friendly?
Solution
This interactive brochure guides visitors through their museum experience by consolidating multiple single-page brochures into one comprehensive, easy-to-carry resource. Key details with additional information is accessible via a website scan and by doing so, it eliminates the inconvenience of carrying multiple papers in hand while walking around. Designed for 25-45-year old creative adults, the brochure features a minimalist style with simple line drawings and color choices aligned with the museum’s theme. The ultimate goal is to ensure seamless navigation, accessibility, and resourcefulness while serving as a gateway for visitors to discover engaging content and events. The brochure covers only permanent exhibitions and galleries, excluding changing exhibitions, as they rotate every three months. To enhance sustainability, it could be printed every three months with updated exhibition titles while retaining the rest of the content. Alternatively, a higher-quality permanent brochure could be printed, with separate single-page inserts for changing exhibitions slid inside. This approach efficiently communicates both permanent and temporary content, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Development
My research began by exploring the museum as a visitor to identify gaps and inconveniences. I collected brochures and interviewed staff to understand current communication practices. I analyzed the content, then conducted desk research. Finally, I incorporated these insights into my design, while maintaining the museum’s core values and visual identity, ensuring the new materials enhanced the visitor experience without compromising the museum’s unique essence.
Process
The design process began with paper concept models exploring various shapes and designs. After several tests, I focused to organizing contents, allowing the form to follow the content organically. I then tested horizontal and vertical layouts, ultimately choosing a three-fold horizontal design for its effectiveness. With the structure finalized, I moved to Adobe Illustrator to refine line drawings, making adjustments based on user feedback to enhance the design.
Final Proposal
The iterative design process led to the final brochure using the museum’s orange and blue colors, with thin line drawings on blue to evoke a blueprint feel. The exterior features a line drawing of the museum’s facade and upcoming park. On the inside, key information, a QR code, and floor plans with universal icons are presented to guide visitors. The design highlights the museum’s immersive experience, and a Spanish version is available for broader audience.
Multilingual Audio
Kinley Yangden & Skylar Gould
How Might We...
create discussion between New London community members and the museum?
Solution
Designed for the museum’s permanent exhibition, this project aims to engage a broader audience in New London community. Offered in English and Spanish, the audio serves as a guide to spark conversations about the artworks, making the exhibition more accessible and interactive while deepening connections between visitors and the museum. The project features perspectives that are shared like converwwsations from Museum Certificate students without feeling overly academic, thus the audio provides fresh insights. QR codes are placed next to the artworks for intuitive access to the material. This approach brings a dynamic layer to the otherwise static space, fostering personal engagement and creative expression.
The project follows a user-iterative design, requiring ongoing testing and feedback to enhance the audio’s effectiveness. While currently limited to Conn students, future plans include incorporating voices from New London creatives and BIPOC visitors to promote richer, more organic dialogues. Additionally, a planned feature on the website or app will allow visitors to share their thoughts, creating a collaborative platform for discussions and further activating the exhibition space.
Development
The project developed from museum staff feedback. Main focus is given on permanent exhibitions which are central to the museum’s identity but remain unchanged. To make these spaces more dynamic, I researched multisensory experiences. Recognizing the needs of my target audience, I identified sound as the most effective medium to break the rigidity of the space. This led to the development of the current multilingual audio project.
Process
The design process began by proposing the concept to the museum and securing support. Collaborating with Conn students, I tested audio styles and chose a two-person conversational format to complement the structured exhibition. After recording and selecting six diverse pieces, we transcribed the audio, and worked to translate it into Spanish. The final product is posted on a bilingual website.
Final Proposal
The final product features bilingual audio conversations about six diverse artworks from the permanent collection, American Perspectives. Each piece was selected by Museum Certificate students from Conn, with two students sharing their perspectives in a conversational format that departs from the structured professional speaker setting. The audios are now posted on an interactive website specifically created for this project.
Beatrice Cuming (American, 1903–1974), Chubb, 1944, oil on canvas
John Denison Crocker (American, 1823-1907), Hunter in New England Wilderness, 1855, oil on canvas.
Daniel Huntington (American, 1816–1906), Abigail Dolbeare Hinman, about 1853–56, oil on canvas.
Artist of the Month
Mary Rizzo and Skylar Gould
How Might We.. effectively involve local communities in exhibitions?
Solution
The ultimate objective of this project is to make the New London artist community feel supported by and connected to the LAAM. Artist of the Month is a program that invites local artists to apply to have their work advertised by the museum. Initially, the program lives online and images sent in by the Artist of the Month are displayed on the museum’s social media and website. Later stages see a new internship position and an in-person year-end gallery exhibition for the last twelve Artists of the Month. And in its final stage, the project exists as a hanging display of one piece of work from the selected artist in the museum lobby for the month.
Development
In the 25-45 year old creatives research group we found that this community tackles very busy schedules. When they do have free time they like to spend it with their friends or partners doing something fun and relaxing. Most often they visited the museum only if there was work from a friend or someone they knew on display.
Process
The idea started with hanging a frame on the wall in the lobby and displaying physical work each month. Upon proposal of the idea to the museum staff, they replied with concerns for time and involvement, as well as a suggestion to move the project online. We rearranged the program to be digital, with the opportunity to expand involvement by moving into the later phases of digital + year-end exhibition + new intern and physical hanging art.
Final Proposal
The final proposal included a printed document for the staff outlining the project idea and specificities for implementation broken down into three phases: digital, digital + year-end exhibition + new intern, and physical hanging art. Staff were also supplied with durable cards showing a QR code surrounded by a frame on one side, and the words ‘Apply to be the [the museum logo] Artist of the Month.’
The QR code links to a Google Form application.
Families in New London
Chloe Schlesselman
Sam Groleau
Skylar Gould
Mackensie Park
Discover
We started our discover process by conducting autoethnographic research in the museum by taking notes about our own experiences with the museum’s collection, programming, and wayfinding system. From there, we interviewed community leaders from the Friendship School, Fresh New London, Expressiones, and the New London Cultural Council. We then created a user journey narrative that told the story of a family moving through the museum to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of the museum’s current experience. Finally, we compiled all of our research onto research boards, which we presented to the museum staff.
Define
During the define phase, we synthesized data from our user persona and journey maps, autoethnographic research, interviews, and community workshops. Organizing our insights in an affinity map, we focused our research under five main themes: user interests, practical realities, outreach strategies, user experience, and com-
munity perception. From our collective insights and corresponding “how might we” questions, we further synthesized our findings into 3 key insights representative of our discoveries and directing our opportunity statement along with solutions moving forward.
How Might We’s:
How might we help users better navigate and define the site, both inside the building and throughout the property?
How might we create sustainable solutions that address user group needs with limited staffing and budget?
How might we bridge the physical and conceptual gap between Lyman Allyn and the New London community?
Opportunity Statement:
Lyman Allyn’s disconnect with downtown New London, lack of wayfinding system, and minimal interactive programming make it a space unknown to and hard to navigate for local families. Possible solutions should engage visitors, evoke wonder through art, and encourage opportunities for intergenerational conversations.
Develop
Using our research from the discover and define stages, we proposed four solutions that specifically engage families at the museum. Our projects range from wayfinding systems, to interactive activities, to community outreach, and all work to build positive relationships between the museum and local families.
Wayfinding Systems
Chloe Schlesselman
How Might We...
help users better define and navigate the Lyman Allyn site?
Solution
This project aims to make the museum feel more welcoming and accessible by creating wayfinding signage that helps visitors orient themselves in the museum building with ease. Floor decals added to staircase landings can help visitors find bathrooms and event spaces during their visit, and can be left up long-term once installed. I’ve also designed a sign to be mounted on the wall by the stairway on each level with names of exhibits listed by floor. the text on these signs would need to be updated and reprinted by museum staff as temporary exhibits change. Last, a larger display at the entrance of the museum could use existing brochure graphics to help visitors orient themselves in the museum and find information on exhibits and amenities on each floor. Pamphlets could be easily swapped out by museum staff as exhibits change throughout the year.
Development
I began this project by visiting the museum and looking at floor plans to identify pathways in the museum, decision points in the space where visitors may want more information, and open spaces where signage could be added without disrupting the museum curation.
After establishing goals like clearly labeling paths to bathrooms and establishing which exhibits can be found on each floor, I focused on developing signage which was clear and succinct and could easily be kept up to date by museum staff.
Final Proposal
I’ve designed three different types of signage to help visitors navigate the museum with ease. Floor decals, which can be permanently installed, guide users to bathrooms and event spaces. Other signage at the stairs gives an overview of what can be found on each floor, with specific exhibits listed. Finally, a brochure display allows visitors to orient themselves in the museum, and can easily be changed out by museum staff as exhibits change.
Creative Connections
Sam Groleau, Maghed Hassan
How Might We... make the museum experience more interactive and engaging to children and teenagers?
Solution
The Creative Connections activity attempts to engage visitors of the Lyman Allyn with thier permanent collection of artwork, through creativity and exploration.
Development
Our goal was to design an engaging, interactive activity for visitors of the LAAM, with a particular focus on families and teenagers.
Process
Our project design evolved thorugh several iterations. We initialy planned an interactive zine for visitors to refrence and draw on while exploring the museum, but shifted to proviting larger drawing space for greater creative expression. The organization of the activities also changed, moving from broadly themed headers to categories based on the museum’s art mediums.
Final Proposal
Our final product is a set of 56 interactive prompts for museum visitors. Half are designed for children, while the other half targets teenagers with access to social media platforms. The durable cards are categorized into six art medium categories, plus a Free Choice category, and are organized in a permanent box for easy grab-and-go use. Visitors can pick up an envelope with high-quality drawing paper and select as many prompts as they like, encouraging exploration and interaction with the museum’s exhibits. The questions are tailored to allow for a large amount of freedom and expression when creating.
Little Lyman Allyn
Skylar Gould, Mary Rizzo, Chloe Schlesselman
How Might We... bridge the physical and conceptual gap between LAAM and the New London community?
Solution
The Little Lyman Allyn is a dollhouse-like recreation of the LAAM containing interactive art activities featuring the LAAM’s permanent collection. It will be set up in an indoor community space in downtown New London to provide families with free access to art and relevant information about the LAAM in a space that they already visit.
The LLA will evoke wonder through art and spark intergenerational conversations by providing families with a free and self guided art-making and curating activity. Moreover, putting the LLA downtown will show young families that the LAAM values connections with the New London community.
The LLA was user tested at the Public Library of New London, but could also be hosted by schools, local non-profits, and more. It requires very little supervision and upkeep since it is a self guided activity, making it an adaptable and sustainable solution.
Development
In our research, we found that the major reasons families did not visit the LAAM were lack of transportation, lack of knowledge about the collection and programming, and its reputation as an “institution on the hill”. To solve these problems, the goals of the LLA are to give the LAAM an accessible landmark downtown that educates families about the LAAM while allowing the museum to create partnerships with the community spaces that host the LLA.
Process
Originally, the LLA was inspired by free little art galleries that are put outside and operate on a give and take basis. Over the course of our 3 full sized prototypes, we realized that designing the LLA to go indoors, more like a dollhouse, allows it to be portable, requires less maintenance, and makes it more visually i nteresting since we could design it to look like the LAAM.
Final Proposal
The LLA comes with art cards that have artwork from the LAAM on one side, and are blank on the other, so that users can create their own art.
Inside the LLA are pegs to hang the art cards on, allowing users to “curate” by moving art around or hang their own artwork alongside the LAAM collection. The LAA has three galleries that hold 24 art cards total and features two informational panels on the roof.
Lyman Allyn Park Scavenger Hunt
Mackensie Park
How Might We...
create a universally accessible and engaging wayfinding map?
Solution
The Lyman Allyn Park Scavenger Hunt is an interactive site map located in the museum building and around park grounds. It features two main components, permanent posters complemented by handheld maps to take and explore the park. The poster and front of the handheld guides depict a map of the park with highlighted locations. Four spotlight landmarks become prompts for drawings on the back of the handheld maps with an invitation to submit drawings via google form. Submissions to the museum will be posted to the “Community’s Lyman Allyn” Story reel on instagram, building a community crafted and curated identity for the park.
The Lyman Allyn Park Scavenger Hunt’s ultimate impact is to redefine the community’s perception and experience of Lyman Allyn through an approachable and user based identity, simultaneously orienting visitors in the site and encouraging intergenerational conversations about art in families. Addressing sustainability, the current scope of the project includes all foreseeable renovations to the park with the “current” and “future” prototypes. Any renovations further in the future could be easily added by an in house designer.
Development
Throughout my research, I became familiar with the physical and conceptual disconnect between Lyman Allyn and its surrounding community. Limited staff and budgeting lead to the museum’s lack of wayfinding and park navigation systems as well as a need for more sustainable family engagement, making Lyman Allyn an undefined space, where visitors were not engaged with or accessing all the museum had to offer.
Process
The discovery phase focused on initial research, gathering an understanding of the realities of local families’ needs and experiences. Moving into the define phase, I worked to synthesize my findings, organizing them into an opportunity statement, key to how we might process questions, and ideas for solutions. Once affirmed by the staff, I began designing, prototyping and developing my project to deliver, co-creating with the community and museum to ensure sustainable, user based product.
Final Proposal
The Lyman Allyn Park Scavenger Hunt is a series of interactive, illustrative site map posters and handheld guides located in the museum building and around park grounds. Through the scavenger hunt, families are invited to engage with the site, documenting their journey and memories in drawings. An invitation to submit user drawings offers an opportunity to be featured on the museum’s social media, building an Instagram story reel of the “Community’s Lyman Allyn”.
Acknowledgements
We are deeply grateful to Eileen Donovan, Tanya Pohrt, Jane Legrow, Sophia Gipstein, and Rebecca Dawson at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum for their invaluable time and support throughout this collaboration.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Diane Felty at the Friendship School; Robert Clark, the Coordinator at College & Career Readiness at New London High School; Caitlin Magner and Catherine Cindrich, Art Teachers at New London High School; as well as the teachers and administration at New London High School. We are also deeply grateful to Lauren O’Leary, Assistant Director of the Walter Commons for Global Study and Engagement; Rebecca McCue, Director of Community Engagement and Holleran Center Operations; Claire Benedict, Assistant Director of Community Engagement and Holleran Center Summer Programming; the New
London Public Library; Eric Hamburg; Casey Moran and the team at Spark Makerspace; Davana Grabel at Fresh New London; and Hearing Youth Voices for partnering with us. It was a pleasure working alongside these individuals and organizations, and we cherish the opportunity to connect with and engage the vibrant New London community.
At Connecticut College, we wish to express our gratitude to the Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy for their generous support through the Margaret Sheridan Grant, the Otto and Fran Walter Commons for Global Study and Engagement, and the Studio Art department for their support in this project. Finally, we extend a special thanks to CopyCats for their printing services, which helped bring this project to life.
Colophon
© 2024.
All reserved by respective owners
Design and Production by Kellyn Scheel ‘27
Produced and Printed in Fall 2024 for the ART
310 Design: Public Practice class
Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Avenue
New London, CT 06329
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