A third of the world watched live as the World Trade Center collapsed on September 11, 2001; a third more heard about it within 24 hours. (Do you remember where you were?) So exhibits at the soon-to-open 9/11 Memorial Museum will reflect the diversity of the world's experiences of that day. In a moving talk, designer Jake Barton gives a peek at some of those installations, as well as several other projects that aim to make the observer an active participant in the exhibit.

The museum of you

Museums and memorials can be transformed from passive halls into active spaces for capturing and sharing personal stories. At the 9/11 Memorial, for example, exhibits include voices and experiences from around the world, making the memory of tragedy deeply personal and collective. Projects like StoryCorps show how capturing ordinary lives and questions can preserve the poetry inside every person, not just the famous. Technology now lets visitors shape exhibits, fostering a sense of ownership and connection across generations.