Overview
Interactive Knowledge partnered with the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art to redesign and reimagine its digital presence, providing its global audience with a digital portal to the museum. The new website supports the museum’s vision of becoming a leading 21st-century resource for African art and culture, extending access far beyond its physical location in Washington, D.C.
Built on the Smithsonian’s Drupal platform, the site provides an accessible, mobile-first experience that connects audiences worldwide to the museum’s collections, exhibitions, and research. Following launch, Interactive Knowledge continues to support the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art through ongoing maintenance, enhancements, and strategic guidance.
Challenge
The National Museum of African Art website needed to evolve from a traditional informational site into a dynamic platform capable of serving a global audience. This required a shift in how the museum presents its identity, collections, and stories online.
Key challenges included:
- Creating a virtual-first experience that functions independently of an in-person visit
- Ensuring full accessibility compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards to meet Smithsonian Technical Review Board requirements
- Integrating complex systems such as collections data (EDAN) and event management (Trumba) in a way that feels intuitive to users
- Presenting rich and scholarly content in a format that is approachable and engaging for a broad audience
Approach
Interactive Knowledge worked closely with stakeholders at the National Museum of African Art to define a digital strategy centered on accessibility, storytelling, and global engagement.
The team implemented a digital-first design approach that allows users to explore African art and culture regardless of location. A mobile-first framework ensured the experience performs consistently across devices, while a clear content structure supports exploration and discovery.
To bring the museum’s content to life, the project emphasized:
- Narrative-driven design that highlights exhibitions, collections, and research
- User-centered information architecture that improves navigation and content discovery
- Inclusive design practices that support accessibility across a wide range of users
- A phased development process aligned with major exhibitions and institutional milestones
Interactive Knowledge collaborated closely with the Smithsonian curatorial and content experts, as well as Smithsonian digital experts, to align with platform standards, governance requirements, and long-term sustainability goals.
Key Features & Integrations
The redesigned National Museum of African Art website is built on the Smithsonian Drupal 10/11 baseline, providing a flexible and scalable foundation for ongoing content and feature development.
Key integrations include:
- Collections integration through EDAN, allowing users to explore artworks and related content directly within the site
- Events integration through Trumba, enabling dynamic updates across the homepage and event listings
- Modern donation platforms that improve usability and support institutional fundraising efforts
- A fully responsive interface designed to serve global audiences across devices
Results
The redesigned National Museum of African Art website establishes a new foundation for the museum's online engagement with audiences. It supports a digital-first experience that invites users to explore collections, exhibitions, and research in a more connected and meaningful way.
Important outcomes include:
- Expanded global access to the museum’s content through a fully realized digital experience
- Increased engagement with collections and exhibitions through integrated and narrative-driven content
- A platform that meets Smithsonian accessibility and technical compliance standards
- A scalable system that supports ongoing growth, new content, and future enhancements
- Training materials, sessions, and continued support for staff as they update content independently
- Ongoing development support for 2.0 launch
Interactive Knowledge continues to partner with the National Museum of African Art to support the platform's evolution.