6. Discussion
In relation to all of the areas that I have discussed above—media, sociality and space—
researchers have maintained that there has not yet developed a significant language in
which to describe and analyse the phenomena on which they focus. As I have noted, there
have been some significant steps in this direction, especially in relation to spatial layout,
although this remains undeveloped and far from agreed upon. While there have been
some interesting observations, it is probably not too unfair to say that in many cases a lot
of detailed observation, charting and analysis seems to be undertaken in order to make
fairly obvious observations. This may, however, be necessary at this stage in the
development a more nuanced observational and analytical vocabulary; and perhaps
future work will be able to draw on the insights of these studies without necessarily
engaging in what is often very time-consuming methodology. This is one challenge for
future research. A second is to try to produce observations and vocabulary that can be
abstracted beyond the specific cases discussed but that are also of direct relevance to
exhibition design. A third is to try to combine some of the areas of study, so that research
is able to look at different aspects of design and of visiting context alongside each other.