Am I the only one that find stain remover ads, toothpaste tubes, corporate websites (or even weblogs) without interaction or updates annoying?
I think not!
So let’s start a little game: Blog about the gadget, design, ad, website, tv-show or anything that is supposed to be a clever construction of the human mind, but turns out to be down right annoying or silly!
I’ll be happy to start. Museums are filled with our history, top-of-the-pops art, clues and wisdom. In addition these institutions house a legion of skilled people with so many stories to tell. BUT WHY are museum websites soooooo boring? Are they all made by people that used to do brochures – but tought themselves how to write in HTML-code?
Well, you can always write an email to the museum asking your questions – and you might even get an answer back. But why not make asking questions an integrated part of the website – making both answers and questions public?
The good old “Q&A’s” are still a way – but why not let scientists, curators and other kinds of staff “in the know” share their findings with the web-guests through blogs? Think of the PR-value and all the satisfied tax payers!!
It could be blogs analyzing and discussing items in the current collection and on display, it could be a way of promoting and “hyping” coming exhibitions or even better, a way of making the treasures in the archives available to the public! How’s that for making a museum website interactive?
Just a thought …
I have surfed the web to find a few prototypes on how to go – let me suggest:
Would be the perfect example on making science and technique approchable for even very young people. I find it worth noting that things are not simplified beyond reason and all entries are linked to original articles om SMoM’s own website or other relevant websites.
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
A blog by Mark Macleod belonging to Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis – and a great example on how to make a blog that is both “corporate” and personal – letting us in on how a curator at the museum works. It strikes me as a very extrovert museum with a high degree of interaction with both guests and sponsors.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Well – another great example on museal blogging – and I have to say: American again! In the “About”-article the blog presents itself this way: “The name Eye Level imparts a sense of clarity to which the blog aspires. The name refers to the physical experience of viewing art, but it also plays on the many roles and perspectives that make a museum a reality—roles that will come into focus”
And yes: There is a Danish example!
Arken Museum of Contemporary Art
A great blog taking a “behind the scenes” look at a very progressive Danish museum. Quite different types of employees post their entries on this weblog. Congratulations – keep up the good work!
