Design and Development of a 3D Cultural Exhibition Model for the Creative Cultural Park at Rajamangala University of Technology Isan

Abstract

This study aimed to (1) analyze museum and exhibition design principles suitable for the local cultural context of the cultural exhibition space at the Creative Cultural Park, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, (2) develop a 3D cultural exhibition model to communicate local cultural identity, and (3) evaluate the suitability of the developed 3D model and synthesize guidelines for applying AR/VR technologies to enhance the exhibition. The study employed a Research and Development (R&D) design using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach Phase 1 comprised document analysis, site analysis, and semi-structured interviews with five experts. Phase 2 developed and refined the prototype using SketchUp and Blender. Phase 3 evaluated the model with 370 faculty members, staff, and students selected through convenience sampling, together with expert evaluation (n = 5) and behavior mapping. Data were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics, including Mean, Standard Deviation, frequency, and percentage. The findings showed that the integrated use of contextual learning, constructivist learning, participatory design, and user-centered design provided an appropriate basis for the cultural exhibition design. User evaluation indicated a very high level of overall suitability ( = 4.83), with cultural interpretation and local identity receiving the highest mean score ( = 4.94). Expert evaluation also indicated a very high level of overall suitability ( = 4.83), while the technology dimension received a comparatively lower but still high rating ( = 4.00). Behavior mapping further showed that 95.7% of participants discussed exhibition objects with others, reflecting active social interaction. The study contributes an integrated Input–Process–Output framework that connects local cultural context, learning theories, participatory and user-centered design, 3D exhibition development, and AR/VR application guidelines for educational and community cultural spaces.