| This thesis investigates the use of design elements in the Canadian War Museum's permanent exhibition. The goal is to understand how and to what extent design, in the form of new media and technologies, contributes to the communication of the exhibition's messages. A qualitative and interdisciplinary approach is taken using three research methods: (a) interviews of museum professionals; (b) an analysis of the media database; and (c) a descriptive visual analysis of selected media units. The findings suggest that design elements are used to enhance the intended messages in terms of both physical and informational accessibility. These results indicate a direct and influential role design elements play in conveying the messages, as they are the primary channels through which the audiences acquire information. This research provides a better understanding about the elusive properties and values of museum exhibition mechanism.;Keywords: museum exhibition, narrative, exhibition design, message communication, new media, technology integration, audience interactivity. |
