Evolving Narrative Forms in Digital-Age Museum Spaces: From Static Displays to Interactive Experiences

Abstract

With the continuous advancement of digital technology, museum exhibition spaces are undergoing a fundamental transformation, from traditional static displays to interactive, visitor-centred environments. This evolution introduces cross-media storytelling, where emotional engagement, sensory immersion, and user interaction are central to the visitor experience. Modern museums aim to deliver more than visual presentation by facilitating multisensory, participatory encounters with cultural and historical content. This paper presents a conceptual exploration of spatial narrative strategies in the digital age, outlining three narrative typologies: natural, scene-based, and interactive. It highlights how emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI) are influencing exhibition design, enhancing user participation, and enabling personalised engagement. By examining selected practices from leading institutions and synthesising insights from narratology and architectural theory, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of spatial storytelling in contemporary museum design. The findings aim to support innovative, user-focused approaches in future cultural exhibition spaces.