Interview Answers:

 

Interviewees:

 

1. (Marine Biology Enthusiast, 28)

2. (Parent, 42)

3. (Tech-Savvy Casual Visitor, 35)

4. (Conservation Advocate, 30)

5. (Teen Visitor, 16)

 

(All answers are paraphrased)

 

Why do you visit aquariums?

 

•  1: “It’s an amazing way to observe marine animals I’d otherwise never see outside of research. I also like to analyze how aquariums communicate scientific information, some do it really well, while others simplify too much.”

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•  2: “It’s all about my kids! They get so excited seeing sea creatures in real life. I think aquariums are one of the best ways to teach young children about marine life in a hands-on, engaging way. Plus I don’t have to entertain them too much haha.”

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•  3: “I love the experience of aquariums, how they use lighting, layout, and digital screens to create a whole new world. I also enjoy taking photos of exhibits because they look so pretty on camera, especially the jellyfish.”

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•  4: “I visit to see how aquariums are helping conservation efforts. I prefer aquariums that actively participate in rescue and rehabilitation programs instead of just being a place for entertainment."

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•  5: “I mostly go because my family plans the trip, but I do think certain animals are really cool to see up close. The ones that move a lot, like sharks or sea lions, are the most fun to watch.

 

”How do you typically interact with exhibits?

 

• ● 1: “I read every plaque and watch any videos available. If there’s a live presentation, I try to attend because it’s often more engaging than just reading text.”

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• ● 2: “I focus on things that will hold my kids’ attention, touch tanks, tunnels, and anything interactive. I don’t always have time to read signs in detail, since I am watching them.”

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• ● 3: “I usually skim the information plaques, but I spend most of my time visually taking in the space, looking at the animals and how the exhibits are designed.”

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• ● 4: “I always read the full descriptions and, if I can, ask staff members about the animals’ backstories—like if they’re part of a rehabilitation program.”

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• ● 5: “I mostly just look at the animals. If there’s a touchscreen or QR code, I might check itout, but I don’t stand around reading for too long. I also use it to take pictures of coolanimals.

 

”Do you use your phone during visits?

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• 1: “Yes! I take photos, and if I see an interesting species, I’ll Google more about it. Like I once saw an Australian Lungfish, which I didn’t know anything about and I immediately searched it up. I actually found out that it is an endangered species at the aquarium so that was cool.”

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• 2: “Mostly to take pictures of my kids or to check the aquarium map to see where we are headed next. There are signs in the space showing where to go, but the map is always  easier to follow for some reason. I use the map they give us at the door but my kids like to hold on to that so I just use the one on my phone. My kids use it mostly to hit each other or tell us where they want to go next.”

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• 3: “I take photos and sometimes look up more details about the exhibits, but not very often since I just like to look around and take everything in. I do use it to find out aboutshow times though and see what I can go to.”

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• 4: “I take note of conservation-related information, like signage and stuff listed, and lookup more information about certain species if I am interested.”

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• 5: “I take videos and send them to friends, if they are cool.”Pain PointsWas anything frustrating about your last visit?

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• 1: “Some of the plaques felt too simplified, I wish there was more depth for visitors who want a deeper understanding.”

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• 2: “making sure to keep track of my kids is always a struggle and finding out where to go next that keeps everyone happy is important too. That is usually where the crying starts.”

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• 3: “The line was very long last time I was here, and there are always a lot of loud children running around which I am not a fan of.”

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• 4: “I wish there was a space dedicated to conservation efforts that we could learn about,I think centering the aquarium more around that would be more educational for everyone rather than showing “cool” animals”

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• 5: “Some exhibits were underwhelming because the animals weren’t active or visible.

 

”Brainstorming for an Aquarium App

 

If there was an app centered around the new england aquarium, what would you want it to include?

 

• 1: “A database of marine species with real-time conservation status updates.”

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• 2: “A kid-friendly scavenger hunt that encourages learning through fun challenges and prizes.”

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• 3: “VR glasses that show you what it is like inside the exhibit next to the fish.”

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• 4: “A feature that tells you each tank’s rescue or rehabilitation story.”

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• 5: “something that shows pictures of the fish as babies growing up would be cute, or like a feed of animal clips showing their personalities.

 

”Likert Scale Question: On a scale of 1 to 5, how important is it to feel connected to the animals during a visit?

 

•  1: 5 – “Feeling connected helps me and visitors care about conservation so I think it’spretty important.

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•  2: 4 – “It’s important for my kids, but I personally enjoy the experience either way.”

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•  3: 3 – “I like the aesthetics more than the emotional connection.”

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• 4: 5 – “This is crucial to building empathy and awareness for the fishes.”

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•  5: 2 – “Not super important, I think it would be cool but also kind of hard since a lot of the animals/fishes look the same.

 

”Magic Wand Question: If you had a magic wand, what would you add or remove to improve your experience?

 

• 1: “I’d love to see more behind-the-scenes areas accessible to visitors, like a way to watch aquarists feed and care for the animals. Some aquariums have limited ‘backstage’ experiences, but they’re usually expensive or hard to book. It would be incredible if there were more opportunities to see the day-to-day work that goes into animal care.”

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• 2:“I’d add more hands-on activities for kids. The touch tanks are always a hit, but I wish there were more interactive stations where kids could do things like feed small fish or participate in experiments, like testing water quality. Anything that keeps them engaged and learning while having fun.”

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• 3: “Not really, I really enjoyed my experience, maybe less kids haha.”

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• 4. “I’d add more storytelling about individual animals, like where they came from, their personalities, and their role in conservation efforts. Some aquariums do this well, but others just list facts about the species without making it personal. It would be powerful to have more in-depth stories shared through staff talks or exhibit signs.”

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• 5. “I wish the animals were more active! I know they can’t always be, but maybe if there were scheduled feeding times or interactive moments where staff did something to encourage movement, it would make things more exciting. Watching a tank where nothing’s happening can get boring."

 

 

Interview Analysis

 

Why do you visit aquariums?

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•  1 (Marine Biology Enthusiast, 28): To observe marine life, analyze educational content.

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•  2 (Parent, 42): To entertain and educate kids.

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•  3 (Tech-Savvy Casual Visitor, 35): Enjoy the aesthetics and immersive design.

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•  4 (Conservation Advocate, 30): Support conservation-focused aquariums.

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•  5 (Teen Visitor, 16): Goes mostly because of family but enjoys active animals.

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Comparison: Everyone visits aquariums for different reasons, but education, engagement, and personal interests are key motivators. Keywords: Education, Entertainment, Aesthetics, Conservation, Social Influence

 

Reviewing Subsequent Questions

 

How do you typically interact with exhibits?

 

•  1: Reads all information, attends presentations.

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•  2: Prioritizes interactive exhibits for kids.

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• ●3: Focuses on visual elements rather than reading.

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•  4: Reads detailed information and asks staff about animal backstories.

 

● 5: Prefers looking at animals and using touchscreens.Comparison: Engagement styles differ, some people seek detailed knowledge, while others prefer visual experiences or hands-on interactions.

 

Keywords: Reading & Learning, Interactive Elements, Visual Appeal, Staff Engagement

 

Do you use your phone during visits?

 

•  1: Takes photos, Googles animal facts.

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•  2: Uses phone for maps and taking pictures of kids.

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•  3: Uses it for photos and checking event schedules.

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•  4: Looks up conservation information.

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•  5: Takes and shares videos.

 

Comparison: Phone use is common, but motivations vary, some use it for learning, others for navigation, and many for photos/videos.

 

Keywords: Photography, Information-Seeking, Navigation, Sharing Content

 

Pain Points

 

• 1: Exhibit plaques lack depth.

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•  2: Hard to manage kids while navigating.

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• 3: Long lines and noisy environment.

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• 4: Wants a stronger conservation focus.

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• 5: Boring exhibits when animals are inactive.

 

Comparison: Pain points relate to content depth, accessibility, and visitor flow.

 

Keywords: Information Depth, Crowds, Navigation, Conservation Focus, Animal Activity

 

Brainstorming for an Aquarium App

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● 1: Database of marine species with conservation updates.

 

● 2: Kid-friendly scavenger hunt.

 

● 3: AR glasses for exhibit immersion.

 

● 4: Rescue/rehabilitation story tracker.

 

● 5: Growing-up photos and personality clips.

 

Comparison: People want engaging, educational, and personalized experiences.

 

Keywords: Interactive Learning, Conservation Awareness, Personal Connection, Immersive Technology

 

Likert Scale: How important is it to feel connected to animals?

 

● 1: 5 – Feeling connected drives conservation.

 

● 2: 4 – Important for kids but not personal priority.

 

● 3: 3 – Enjoys aesthetics more than connection.

 

● 4: 5 – Crucial for conservation and empathy.

 

● 5: 2 – Not very important, since many animals seem identical.

 

Comparison: Conservation-minded visitors prioritize emotional connection, while others focus more on visual appeal.

 

Keywords: Emotional Connection, Conservation Impact, Visual Interest

 

Magic Wand: If you could change or add anything to improve your experience?

 

● 1: Behind-the-scenes access to aquarists.

 

● 2: More interactive stations for kids.

 

● 3: Fewer crowds/noise.

 

● 4: Deeper storytelling about individual animals.

 

● 5: More animal activity through scheduled feedings.

 

Comparison: People want deeper engagement, better visitor experience, and more dynamic exhibits.

 

Keywords: Behind-the-Scenes Access, Interactivity, Visitor Comfort, Storytelling, Active Exhibits

 

 

 Identifying Core Themes

 

Theme Related Keywords:

Education & Learning:

Information Depth, Conservation Awareness, Reading & Learning, Interactive Learning

 

Engagement & Interaction:

Interactivity, Storytelling, Hands-on Activities, Staff Engagement

 

Navigation & Accessibility:

Visitor Flow, Navigation, Crowds, Noise, Maps

 

Emotional Connection:

Conservation Impact, Personal Connection, Behind-the-ScenesAccess

 

Aesthetics & Enjoyment:

Visual Appeal, Active Exhibits, Immersive Technology,Photography, Sharing Content

 

 

Writing "How Might We" Questions

 

1. How might we make aquarium exhibits more engaging for different learning styles (reading, visuals, interaction)?

2. How might we help visitors feel a stronger emotional connection to marine animals?

3. How might we improve visitor flow and reduce congestion to enhance the experience?

4. How might we design better interactive elements that encourage hands-on learning for children and adults?

5. How might we create more dynamic exhibits to keep visitors engaged even when animals are inactive?