Media Wall or Chain Link Fence
Which is better, a media wall or a chain link fence?
Let’s imagine two exhibition experiences, which I will invent at random:
1. Media Wall
A giant, 10-foot tall, 20-foot wide, high-resolution, interactive media wall. Visitors gesture to create an ever-changing algorithmic artwork to raise genocide awareness.
2. Chain Link Fence
A giant, 10-foot tall, 20-foot wide red chain link fence. Hung with thousands of custom-printed red notecards. Visitors each hand-write a pledge that they will help stop genocide.
Both are the same size. Both feature interactivity, participation, and self-renewing content for the same number of visitors at once.
The media wall cost $1,000,000.
The red fence cost $10,000 (100 times less).
If a million visitors see both, the media wall costs us $1 per visitor.
The red fence costs us a penny each.
Is the media wall 100 times better? Don’t answer that. Think how a visitor would answer.
Nothing against media walls. I help make them. But I also help make chain link fences.
Here’s the thing:
It’s not about what something costs you. It’s about value to the visitor.
Pennies might have more power than you think.
Warmly,
Jonathan