The meSch approach is grounded on principles of co-design: the participation of designers, developers and stake-holders into the process of creation and evaluation as equal partners, and on a Do-It-Yourself philosophy of making and experimenting. Three large-scale case studies in different museums provide test beds for the real-world evaluation of meSch technology with the public and cultural heritage stakeholders.
The Guardian states: "If layers of virtual reality start to feel like they’re making the museum visit less tangible, then the EU-funded meSch project is putting physical interaction back at the heart of cultural heritage experiences. By embedding digital content in smart objects, curators, artists and designers can create new experiences in museums that bridge the gap between abundant digital information and fragile physical objects."
The consortium consists of twelve partners from six European countries and is coordinated by Sheffield Hallam University (more information about the partners in the consortium can be found under People). The project started in February 2013 and will last for four years. It is funded by the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme ‘ICT for access to cultural resources’.