Exploring Public Engagement with Paleontological Visualisations: A Survey at Design and Heritage Exhibitions

This study investigates how different audience groups, including design professionals, students, and the general public, engage with and interpret paleontological visualisation works. Using survey data collected from visitors at a visualisation exhibition and a heritage museum, the analysis focuses on levels of comprehension, interest, and preferred visual features. The findings indicate that design-trained respondents place greater value on visual aesthetics and stylistic expression, whereas general public participants prioritise clarity, accessibility, and narrative context to support understanding. Visual features associated with stronger comprehension include layered information structures, the use of metaphors to explain complex concepts, and the presence of bilingual labels. These results offer insights for improving exhibition design strategies and enhancing public communication of scientific content.