Framing document for visit itineraries

This document establishes the framework for designing and implementing visit itineraries within CERN exhibitions. It outlines the key requirements in terms of accessibility, safety, durability, technical specifications, and overall design. A certain standardisation of the routes is also aimed for in order to offer a consistent and optimal experience for all visitors and ensure a homogeneous approach to all visit points. The objective is to ensure a coherent, engaging, and safe visitor experience while maintaining compliance with CERN’s safety standards and international regulations.

 

Visitor Route Strategy: Content, Standards & Scenography

Standardised scenography content for all visitor routes

  • Exterior Signage : Style and colour scheme to be decided.  
  • Ensure a standardised introductory plan of CERN campuses with a "You are here" marker: https://cernbox.cern.ch/s/zJVCb3jqh2IHhEi
  • Ensure that this standardised introduction always follows a consistent formulation. It should contextualise the visit by first providing a global overview before gradually narrowing down to the specific topic.

Visitor Experience

  • Offer an optimised experience in terms of both content and scenography.  
  • Adapt to diverse target audiences to better meet their expectations (School +14/16 years to VIP).
    Maintain the spirit of the site.  
  • Avoid disruption and inconvenience for CERN users (passage, delivery, noise…)

Tour Structure & Storytelling

  • Provide supports for guides to explain : The main text is included in the guides' supporting material (“Trame de viste” / Guided Tour Outline).  
  • Storytelling : Use scenographic elements to highlight key stopping points and topics, and the set of rhythm of storyteling.  
  • Create a structured yet flexible approach, allowing the guide to personalize the tour (“à la carte” format) to adapt to needs: e.g. timing, visitor type, tour variation according to maintenance...
  • Easily adaptable furniture, that can be repurposed or modified according to the evolutions of the site and any changes to the content.

Design Guidelines – Graphics


Interactivity

  • No obligatory tactile content or hands-on experience for visitors
  • Limit manipulations for guides due to time constraints.  
  • If manipulations are necessary, ensure they are quick and practical.  

Content on walls and screens

  • Avoid paragraphs of text; prioritise slogans and labels.
  • Use simple, accessible language (avoid complicated words).  
  • Use graphics and images for the guide to explain instead of printed texts.  

Accessibility & Inclusion

  • All parts of the exhibition shall be accessible to visitors and guides with disabilities (e.g. easy access to touch screens; appropriate lighting, text sizes and screen heights). These matters should be discussed extensively with the CERN Exhibitions, Design, and Technical teams.
  • Circulation within the exhibition must consider wheelchair users (both visitors and guides).
  • Sounds must be limited to the area where they are needed. Special care has to be taken that noise (from components, from use of the exhibits) does not spread throughout the exhibition and outside the buildings.
  • Flashing lights must be avoided.
  • When using panels and/or images, ensure that images are large enough for the whole group to see comfortably (group size either 12 -24 depending on site).
  • Incorporate diversity and human elements into the content.

Technic and security

Security & Safety

  • The supply shall be compliant with:
    • CERN Fire Code E.
    • Swiss AEAI Prescription in fire safety matters.
    • Cantonal Legislation for public buildings in Geneva (L 5.05 and L5.05.01: _Loi et Règlement d'application de la loi sur les constructions et les installations diverses_ (RCI)).
    • CERN Safety rules available at: http://cern.ch/safety-rules
  • Materials must minimise fire propagation and toxic fumes.
  • List of proposed materials shall be submitted for CERN validation at the earliest stage.
  • All cabling, lighting, power, and control connections must be done by the contractor and comply with:
  • Compliance with exhibition safety rules in Switzerland and France.
  • Any new electronic & electrical equipment must comply with:
    • Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2).
    • Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE).
  • Visitors must not be able to cut themselves on sharp edges.
  • No mechanical parts where fingers or other body parts could get pinched.
  • All electrical components must be shielded.
  • Any grids covering fans or moving parts must have fine mesh to prevent fingers or hair from getting caught.
  • Push buttons, joysticks, and other interfaces must be vandal-proof and impossible to remove externally.
  • Design must prevent visitors from getting their fingers repeated or stuck into openings.
  • Design must prevent visitors from tripping, slipping, bumping their heads or straddling.


Durability & Maintenance

  • The supply shall be solid, rigid, and durable for the next ten years.
  • Complicated dismantling of furniture for regular maintenance shall be avoided.
  • All exhibits needing power must have Swiss-type plugs connected to the building's power.
  • All exhibit parts must be fixed inside the cabinet.
  • All cabinets and exhibits must have smooth surfaces that are easy to clean and resistant to fingerprints.
  • All exhibit components inside a cabinet shall be easily accessible through a door with invisible hinges requiring a key.
  • The lock must not be easily opened by visitors.
  • An 8mm female square key shall open all cabinets.
  • The door must be adapted to the size of the parts inside the cabinet.
  • The parts must be easily accessible and removable.
  • All electronic components must be inaccessible to visitors, mounted on a fire-resistant plate, and placed inside a box within the exhibit.
  • All metal parts must be earthed.
  • Screws and bolts must be hidden unless they are an integral part of the design. Only countersunk heads must be used.
  • Cabinets containing PCs, screens, or other heat-generating components shall be continuously ventilated.
  • Ventilation grids must have dust filters that are easily removable for cleaning or replacement.

Technical Equipment & Systems

  • Computing hardware shall be chosen so as to be compatible with that at existing itineraries.
  • Laptops and tablets are not allowed.
  • PCs must be as close as possible to the corresponding exhibit/projector/screen and accessible from floor level.
  • The distance between a computer and its projector or screen must be less than 5 metres.
  • Recommended equipment:
    • Projectors: Epson
    • Screens: Samsung with PQlabs frames or ELO
    • Microcomputers: NUC or Brightsign player
  • Operating Systems:
    • Must be in English or French.
    • Must have Wake-on-LAN function and power-on capabilities.
  • Control & Connectivity:
    • The exhibition control system shall be written in Node-Red.
    • All devices (TVs, PCs, readers, video projectors, etc.) shall be linked to CERN’s internet network.
    • Power control shall be managed using GUDE or KNX.
    • Lighting fixtures shall be controlled via Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI)**.
    • The exhibition sound system shall be compatible with DANTE.

Environment

  • Thought should be given to the ease of re-use / repurposing of furniture. 
  • Designs that are easy to recycle or reuse are preferred, as are those with more sustainable materials, such as wood (FSC certified), DIBOND (entirely recyclable), formaldehyde-free particle boards and/or the use of recycled materials or materials that have an eco-label;
  • Ensure materials do not make use of coating that is harmful to the environment;
  • Use a lighting system that reduces the energy consumption;
  • Use AV equipment with label A+ or Energy Star; 
  • Make use of TCO certified IT equipment.

A useful standard for suppliers is provided by the EU Eco Label product catalogue, which can be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/ecat/

Request example

Lino sol spécification

R10/PC10.minimum - Sufficient grip level to meet our anti-slip requirements
IS 41
M0 or M1
No PVC 
Provide data sheet – if varnish, data sheet need to be delivered

Specification of the display cabinet

information will be available soon.

TV stand specifications  

information will be available soon.