Experience Design as a bridge between education, science and society: the case of Museu da Vida Fiocruz (Fiocruz Museum of Life)

This paper presents a report on the development of an Experience Design project for Museu da Vida Fiocruz (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). The initiative was carried out as part of the Professional Post Graduate Program in Creative Economy, Strategy, and Innovation at ESPM Rio. It was an outcome of the Interaction and Experience Design module and was conducted by master’s students under faculty supervision. The museum is a cultural branch within Oswaldo Cruz Foundation – the leading Brazilian public science institution – and offers free educational activities with the mission of expanding social participation in topics related to science, health, and technology. The main goal of the project was to improve the museum visit experience through Experience Design (UX Design) methodologies and tools. Based on an in-depth diagnosis of the institution and on application of the theoretical content covered in the course, viable and innovative solutions were proposed to improve the public’s interaction with the museum’s spaces and content. T he research and recommendations were consolidated in a report delivered to Museu da Vida Fiocruz and approved by its management team. In this way, the project integrated teaching, research, and extension, resulting in an effective contribution to strengthening science dissemination practices and promoting access to cultural institutions.