The Interpretation Ecosystem
Interpretation can be defined in many ways for museums, but the term is most often associated with labels. In actuality, interpretation should be everything that is information about your collection. Ideally, you are thinking about a whole ecosystem of ideas from information without an intercessor, like a label, to information disseminated by people, like a …
When Content is Global : Digital Interpretation
At the core, museums offer the interpretation to offer people connections to collections. Lonnie Bunch, the museum’s director, says, “What we really want to do is humanize history.” The delivery method matters on one key level. Technology allows for vast off-site interpretation. But, even when visitors are not in the museum, as Karen Franscona, Boston Museum …
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Visual Literacy and Importance of Imagery in Interpretation (Graphics/ Data/ Blog)
Early man likely shared stories orally. These stories would eventually become text. But, images probably came before written text. While the exact purpose of these visuals remains unclear, certainly one can assume that the original audience was able to garner meaning from looking at the images. This is not surprising if you think of life. …
Engaging Interpretation (Blog/ Graphic)
Truly inclusive museums center visitors in their practice. In order to do this, they make sure that the idea that they offer through interpretation balance the desires and needs of museums and visitors. Ideally, they include elements of the collection object and its history in ways that are relevant to the visitor. The graphic, however, …
Self-Care for Museum Workers (Book)
Our new book, Objective Lessons: Self-Care for Museum Professional, focuses on the people who make museums work. Self-care is basically the practice of ensuring that you maintain your best self. This book is a focused look at the professionals working in the cultural sector. This active workbook blends object-based learning and creative expression. This is …
Labels in the World of Information Overload (Blog / Graphics )
From the museum point of view, they help audience connect to collections Visitors differ in their needs by sector. Designing one label for multiple audiences is impossible Visitor evaluation will help evolve labels to meet new needs Digital content needs to be a priority and purpose-built While text abounds in museums, the most ubiquitous element …
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The Inclusive Museum : The Ideal State of Being for a Museum
The Japanese concept of Ikigai has been rolling around the Internet. The graphic describes when you are in the ideal state of being by balancing various states of work, life, meaning, and hope. The concept is either aspirational or depressing depending on your circumstances. The image did get me thinking. The museum has two …
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Are Museums Writing for Today’s Audience? Looking at the Changes in Literacy & Knowledge-Creation in Society
When our visitors walk into their museums, they will have already consumed a great deal of information and fast at a rate of, on average, 23 words per second. Over the course of a day, people read an average 105,000 words. They walk into your museum, only to use text to find the bathroom, learn about …
Museums have a Problem with Fun (Data)
Museums need visitors. Anyone who flips through an annual report or glances on a website can attest to that fact. But, how do you get them there? You entice them, of course. But, how do you do that? I can share how I did that. When I used to run programs, I would try to …
Bill of Rights for Museum Visitors
Museum visitors have rights. Museums are storage lockers without visitors. And, visitors have certain rights. Visitors have: The right to wander at will, The right to feel smart, And the right to demand NOT to be made to feel stupid. They have the right to spend hours or look at ONE thing and …