Boston Children’s Museum
Boston, MA — PPDR has collaborated on evaluation and audience research with this museum for 34 years. In recent years, that included conducting Front-end Research for an exhibit called “What’s for Dinner?”, about food and good nutritional habits, and contributing to the planning process for “Children of Hangzhou,” an exhibit about Chinese culture and a new initiative in the Museum’s ongoing commitment to showcase diverse cultures. We began the latter by consulting on the development of an app, LXB: The League of Extraordinary Bloggers, a mystery game about four Asian cultures. We later evaluated this exhibition before it traveled to other museums. Earlier in our collaboration, we did a series of projects for “Boston Black”, a long-term exhibition and programming about the diversity of African-heritage cultures in Boston, including Storyline Testing (formative), Program Evaluation and Summative Evaluation.
Discovery Museums
Acton, MA — To assist the museum in planning for a new indoor/outdoor exhibit, “Discovery Woods,” we conducted a Front End Study including focus groups with members, and interviews with families visiting the museum. The study gauged visitor expectations, interests, and reactions to some preliminary ideas for the proposed tree house and nature-based activities.
Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum
Poughkeepsie, NY — PPDR’s Audience Research and Analysis of this museum was used for master planning, investigating current audiences and their perceptions of strengths and weaknesses, defining primary and secondary market areas, and applying information about audiences to creative options for expansion as created by the design team (Andrew Merriell & Associates, Tom Troller architect, Studio One landscape architects).
Timmy’s Town Center
Scranton, PA — The Market Research we conducted helped in the planning for this new children’s museum. Phase 1 investigated families’ interest in the proposed museum, including issues about types of experiences desired and perceptions of a range of potential locations, and Phase 2 sought public reactions to proposed exhibit concepts.
Children’s Museum of Southeast CT
Niantic, CT –We conducted Market Research to explore the public’s awareness and use of this museum as well as perceptions of a possible change in location (subcontract to Anne Butterfield Company).