Thesis Format

Monograph

A New Method for the Digital Activation of Museum Collections: the Andalusia Collection at the Aga Khan Museum

Author

Zeina Dghaim, The University of Western OntarioFollow

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Hispanic Studies

Supervisor

Dr Juan Luis Suarez

Abstract

The digital activation of museum collections often replicates traditional data repository systems. It also often relies on ad-hoc methods such as 360 VR tours and videos. These conventional approaches reduce meaningful engagement with collections. To overcome this limitation, museums require a new digital interface model to show the vast network of collections through various media. This study introduces “Crooms,” a novel methodology for digitally activating museum collections. Crooms is grounded in the concepts of cultural networks, multimodality, and playfulness. They enable the extraction, contextualization, and design of the data embedded in collections through five main components: an interactive map, a room of wonders, an animation, a colouring book, and a prospectus. The “Crooms” methodology offers several advantages: It uncovers and highlights the cultural connections and narratives embedded in objects, offering a rich array of metadata to be activated. It also enhances the UX and UI design of digital collections, improving the online presentation of artifacts by contextualizing them within digital environments. These efforts elevate visitor interest and engagement with historical content, support informal online education, and advance storytelling in digital heritage contexts. Furthermore, “Crooms” contributes to the standardization of digital activation processes while allowing for flexibility, enabling the model and data to shape the interface and narrative while leaving aesthetic decisions to designers and artists. This dissertation employs the al-Andalus collection at the Aga Khan Museum as a case study to illustrate the practical application of the “Crooms” methodology while exploring its benefits, potential biases, and areas for further enhancement.

Summary for Lay Audience

Museums often use virtual reality tours, videos, and images to display their collections online. These methods sometimes make the collections feel more like content management systems and databases than engaging cultural experiences. This study introduces “Crooms,” a new method designed to digitally bring museum objects to life. It makes museum collections more exciting and accessible for visitors. “Crooms” is based on three key ideas: connecting cultural stories, using multiple forms of media, and incorporating elements of playfulness into the design of the method and program. Crooms uses five main components to engage visitors online with collections: an interactive map, a room of wonders, animations, a colouring book, and a prospectus. These tools present museum collections in ways that encourage learning, exploration, and enjoyment. In addition, “Crooms” offers other benefits: It highlights cultural connections found in objects, improves how artifacts are displayed online, and supports informal education and storytelling about cultural heritage. “Crooms” provides a flexible framework that can be adapted to different collections while allowing creative design choices. This study uses the al-Andalus collection at the Aga Khan Museum to demonstrate some practical applications of “Crooms.” It also discusses its advantages, potential challenges, and ways to improve it.

Recommended Citation

Dghaim, Zeina, "A New Method for the Digital Activation of Museum Collections: the Andalusia Collection at the Aga Khan Museum" (2024). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 10722.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/10722

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Project Video

Multimedia Format

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