Fold & Frame is a low-tech, interactive booklet that supports accessible engagement through interactive activities, helping diverse visitors feel awe, have fun, and learn meaningfully with the museum experience.
Client
National Gallery of Art Museum
Aug 2025 - Dec 2025
Contribution
Service Design
UX/UI Design
Team
Daon Lee
Abigail K, Arisha S, Eli S, Makda B
Context
Creating Fun, Awe, and Learning for the NGA visitors
The National Gallery of Art’s West Building holds a world-class but historically narrow collection, with approximately 90% of the works created by white men, and only a small percentage by artists of color. While the institution aspires to keep “humans at the center,” many visitors who do not see themselves as “art people” often feel overwhelmed, intimidated by scholarly labels, and unsure how to navigate the dense gallery spaces.
We partnered with the NGA to explore how the West Building’s existing collection could feel more inclusive, awe-driven, and fun.
My Role
I led the visual design of the booklet and origami pamphlets.
I co-designed a research plan and conducted interviews, site observations, and journey mapping.
I synthesized insights into systems maps and design principles.
Project Deliverables
A low-tech, paper-based interactive booklet and foldable pamphlets that personalize museum engagement through playful, hands-on activities.
Project Impact
Helped diverse visitors slow down, feel awe, and learn in more accessible and enjoyable ways, while strengthening engagement without changing the artworks themselves.
Current Experience
What is the current NGA visiting experience like?
Before beginning fieldwork, we assumed the main challenge was simply that “people do not read labels,“ and believed that adding more digital features, such as apps, VR, or audio, would automatically make galleries more engaging. However, desk research and precedent studies quickly complicated this idea.
Art-Competing
Additional Interventions risk competing with the art or becoming “artwork” themselves
Underdeveloped
values
Fun, Awe, and Learing are core values, but they’re still underdeveloped
Allenating
Collection
A white-male-dominated collection can make others feel like they don’t belong
Current Experience
What is the current NGA visiting experience like?
Before beginning fieldwork, we assumed the main challenge was simply that “people do not read labels,“ and believed that adding more digital features, such as apps, VR, or audio, would automatically make galleries more engaging. However, desk research and precedent studies quickly complicated this idea.