Visitor research

We try to think about our visitors in lots of different ways, from lots of different perspectives.  We are keen to make sure that we respond to our visitors by talking to them to find out their opinions about what, why and how they visit the V&A, rather than assume from our own point of view.

For this, we conduct a varied programme of targeted research that looks at different aspects of what, why and how people like to visit the museum, from school groups to adults who work in the creative industries.

List of reports

• 2006 Testing Exhibition Themes and Titles (PDF file, 344 KB)
• 2005 V&A Family Groups Phase 1 (PDF file, 188 KB)
• 2005 Audio Handsets Report (PDF file, 243 KB)
• 2004 Under Fives (PDF file, 392 KB)
• 2004 Educators, Students and the RIBA Archives (PDF file, 149 KB)
• 2003 Orientation and Map (PDF file, 51 KB)
• 2001 Repeat Visitors (PDF file, 296 KB)

We also collaborate with other museums and academic institutions on partnership research projects

• 2006/7 At Home in Renaissance Italy: Visitor Impact Study (PDF file, 1.17 MB) (AHRC with Annabel Jackson Associates)
• 2006/7 The museum as a social laboratory: enhancing the object to facilitate social engagement and inclusion in museums and galleries (V&A, Kings College London, Science Museum - 3 part international seminar series)
• 2003 WIT Enhancing interpretation: new techniques and technologies for fine and decorative art museums (Study with King's College London)