A checklist to help you produce effective interpretation.

1. An interpretation plan is essential. Without knowing why, what, who for, when, and how, you'll be in a right muddle.

2. Know your visitors and what's right for them. Don't just interpret what you are interested in but make sure your audience can relate to the interpretation.

3. Each piece of interpretation should communicate a single, clear message or idea. This is the main 'theme' of your interpretation, and can hook your visitors into a more detailed story.

4. Don't interpret everything. Some things are best left for people to discover or wonder at for themselves.

5. Get specialist help if you're not sure what you're doing. Interpretation looks easy, but is difficult to do well.

6. Don't assume that your visitors know much about what you are interpreting, but don't underestimate their intelligence either.

7. Dull and boring is bad. Fun and provocative is good, your visitors are not cautious bureaucrats but normal people who will enjoy being excited, amused, challenged and entertained.

8. Stimulate all the senses. What can your visitors see, hear, feel, smell and taste?

9. Don't preach. You may want to change people's attitudes or behaviour, but it pays to be subtle and to let people think for themselves. 

10. Layer your interpretation so that everyone gets the message, regardless of how bothered they can be to read / watch / listen to or do the whole thing.

11. Mix your media: don't rely on ever more panels and leaflets, a 'book on the wall' is a definite no-no. Keep any text short and sharp.

12. Don't spend all your money on a nice-looking building only to run out of money when it comes to the interpretation inside. Your real 'product' is the interpretation, not the building. Do encourage your visitors to explore further.

13. Link your site to a relevant facility such as your local museum.

14. Do measure how well your interpretation is working and be prepared to change it if necessary.