What makes an exhibition truly inclusive, and why it matters

What does it really mean for a museum or gallery to be inclusive - not just physically accessible, but genuinely welcoming to everyone who walks through the door? And what happens when inclusive design is embedded from the very start of a project, rather than added as an afterthought? From multisensory interactives and sensory friendly programming, to co-design workshops with local communities and audience testing with children as young as two, this episode explores what it takes to create exhibitions that offer genuine choice, permission and representation for all visitors. Our first guest is Fiona Slater, Head of Access and Equity at the Science Museum Group. Fiona joined the group in April 2021 in a newly developed role overseeing the group’s public commitment to being open for all. With over 15 years championing inclusive and accessible practice across museums and the third sector, Fiona brings deep expertise in making cultural spaces work for diverse audiences - from Relaxed Sessions and Community Access Schemes to the development of on-gallery Access Hubs and online access resources. Our second guest is Anat Talmor, Design Director at award-winning architectural practice De Matos Ryan. Anat has significant experience across museum, cultural and educational projects, and has been responsible for key design development and delivery on projects including WonderLab: The Bramall Gallery at the National Railway Museum in York, the Young V&A base build in Bethnal Green, and the Tullie House Museum redevelopment in Carlisle. Anat is passionate about working with communities and has led many of the practice’s ambitious co-design programmes for cultural institutions. In this episode we discuss what accessible design looks like in practice across gallery and exhibition environments - from pacing high-energy and calm spaces, to engaging all the senses beyond the purely visual. We hear how centring lived experience early in the design process leads to richer, more surprising outcomes, and why the timing of that engagement matters. Anat shares how inclusive prototyping and audience testing at WonderLab and the Young V&A - including attaching GoPro cameras to nursery children - uncovered insights that transformed the design. Fiona discusses the importance of visitor inclusion through Relaxed Sessions, Access Hubs and the Community Access Scheme, and why removing financial barriers is a crucial part of accessibility. We also explore the role of the accessibility consultant in the design team - not just as a technical sense-check against access standards, but as a source of creative provocation that pushes projects further. And we hear how both Fiona and Anat see multisensory, universal design as the future of exhibition-making - not designing for a small group, but creating experiences where everyone benefits. A practical, honest and inspiring conversation about why design equity in cultural spaces isn’t a nice-to-have - it’s where the most creative, rewarding work happens. You can read the complete episode transcript and explore additional resources here: https://mimagroup.com/the-redesign-podcast -- Mima is a human-centric, inclusive design consultancy specialising in helping clients improve customer experience across transport and destinations. Led by research, we consult on strategy, improve accessibility and help your customers find their way. https://mimagroup.com/