How do I create an accessible audio guide?
In this way, you enable barrier-free access to your content and create inclusive delivery.
Imagine visiting a museum, but instead of simply strolling through the exhibitions, you are guided through a symphony of sounds, detailed descriptions and stories as well as tactile experiences. But why are accessibility and multisensory important? In January 2024, Swissinfo reported that inclusive cultural enjoyment is hardly possible for people with disabilities. For many people with disabilities, this is not just a question of comfort, but of accessibility.
The integration of accessible and multi-sensory audio guides in museums is revolutionizing the way we experience art and history. In this article, we highlight the importance of these innovations and how they make museum visits more accessible and richer for everyone, with three specific examples from the Gewerbemuseum Winterthur, the Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst and the Museum für Gestaltung.
Accessibility in museums means more than just installing ramps and elevators. It's about creating an inclusive experience that offers all visitors - regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities - the same opportunity to enjoy art and culture. Audio guides play a central role in this. They provide an auditory accompaniment through the exhibitions, which is particularly essential for people with visual impairments.
Wonnder’s (formerly Audio-Cult) multisensory audio guides expand the concept of accessible interpretation by engaging multiple senses. These innovative tours offer a more comprehensive and immersive experience that enriches the museum visit for everyone.
The Gewerbemuseum Winterthur has implemented innovative accessibility measures. It offers audio guides that have been specially developed for people with visual impairments. These guides combine detailed audio descriptions with tactile experiences so that visitors can feel the structure and shape of the materials.
Inclusion is a top priority at the Migros Museum of Contemporary Art. The museum uses audio-descriptive audio guides and videos in sign language that convey visual and auditory information. These guides provide a comprehensive description of the artworks, turning a visit to the museum into an experience.
The Museum of Design also relies on a variety of educational methods. At the heart of the exhibition Design for All – Diversity as the Norm focuses on five international design studios that incorporate societal diversity into their work and make our environment more accessible. Audio guides from Wonnder are therefore also available for the exhibition. Some of the exhibition’s innovative highlights can thus be discovered through an audio-descriptive tour.
The integration of accessible and multi-sensory audio guides is a decisive step towards more inclusive museum experiences. They enable all visitors, regardless of their individual abilities, to experience art and culture in all their depth and diversity. There are numerous specialist agencies, initiatives and funding programs that support such projects. Here are three brief examples:
Regional initiatives are being developed to make culture more accessible. In the Swissinfo report, Stéphanie Zufferey, a member of the executive board at Pro Infirmis, says: “You can do as much cultural outreach as you want. If the person themselves doesn’t feel they have the right to participate, they won’t come.”
At Wonnder, we work closely with museum educators and advocacy groups to optimize our offerings to meet as many needs as possible. For museums, this means not only expanding their audience but also enriching the visitor experience beyond mere viewing. The future of museum experiences is multisensory and accessible—and thus more exciting and accessible than ever before.
How are great audio experiences created?
