Playing with Cultural Heritage. Reflections and Experiences Between Analogue and Digital

The link between education, ludic learning, and digital technology for enhancing cultural heritage has been a focal point of exploration for decades. Within this framework, this study aims to briefly assess the interplay of new technologies, learning methodologies, entertainment, and museum education. Applying gaming principles to cultural heritage has important emotional and cognitive implications, integrating with psychology and neuroscience studies. Understanding user experience, emotions’ impact on cognition, visual perception, and memory processes improves the design of immersive experiences in museums. Nowadays, museums are increasingly focusing on learning how to improve the quality of users’ experiences with an effective and engaging communication. Illustrating some examples of communication projects for the National Gallery of the Marche and the Palazzo Ducale of Urbino, we intend to emphasise the main objective of involvement and immersion. Operating with visual communication, this project intertwines narratives of historical figures, fostering active engagement and exploration in visitors. In this framework we intend to highlight the role and importance of of play in the communication of cultural heritage.