MCN 2026

This session examines the reimagined ArtLens Gallery from the perspective of project management, using the framework of how we divided our responsibilities for a complex and ambitious undertaking involving multiple partners and collaborators. We divided project management roles between the physical space, the app, and the emphasis on making the experiences more inclusive and accessible to counteract the inaccessibility inherent to an art museum for blind or low vision people, while better supporting visitors with a wide range of sensory, mobility, and cognitive access needs.

We’ll share how we managed: 

- Accessible Exhibition Design: The physical design choices we implemented to make the gallery more accessible to blind or low vision visitors, also enhancing the experience for all.

- Developing a Tactile Interface: How we developed an interactive that uses a tactile reproduction of an artwork as a user interface.

- ArtLens App Rebuild: How we rebuilt the ArtLens app to make it easier for visitors to explore, learn, and connect at the CMA, under a tight, inflexible timeline. Prioritized for accessibility and inclusivity for all users, the new app is built with a unified codebase for both iOS and Android and is strategically integrated within the CMA’s digital ecosystem to leverage the existing app technologies and build on what already works.

- Dissecting the Museum Map: Using this page as a case study, we’ll examine key decisions, challenges, and outcomes, to unpack the complexities of the project and highlight the lessons learned.

- Managing App Integration with the Physical Space: Project management strategies used to align cross-functional teams around a shared docking approach that served as the technical bridge between the app and physical space and the foundation for accessibility affordances. 

- Managing Scope, Tradeoff, and Delivery Impacts: How key decisions, such as physical versus proximity docking, were scoped, evaluated, and implemented within real-world constraints, and how those choices impacted timelines, user flows, and accessibility outcomes. 

- Balancing Vision with Reality: What we’d do differently with additional time or resources and how the project continues to evolve beyond launch.

Unlike previous iterations, the reimagined ArtLens prioritizes inclusive experiences that make art matter. Through an integrated approach that combines physical exhibition design and the mobile application, the gallery offers consistent, multi-sensory experiences that reduce barriers and support independent exploration.