Hi Nick
I agree this is a useful way of looking at it and an aspect that is often left unaddressed. I proposed myself for the second of the two presentations below, and audience focus and usability would be a core part of that.
'Watching [people's] mounting frustration' is something I do a lot of in my usability work, and I have come to really enjoy it - I hope that's not too weird...
Best
Martin
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Martin Bazley
Digital heritage consultant
Martin Bazley & Associates
15 Margin Drive
Wimbledon
SW19 5HA
0780 3580 727
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www.martinbazley.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Poole
Sent: 04 June 2014 14:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MCG] Museums Association conference digital session
Hi Simon,
It sounds like a really interesting session. I'm not responding to suggest a speaker, but more to raise a perspective.
I've recently been working with an artists and illustrator who was tasked with identifying a set of iconic objects from the websites of a number of museums and drawing pictures of them.
Watching their mounting frustration was a real education in terms of the difference between how collections are presented on museum websites and how different types of user might expect to interact with them.
Put simply, the websites weren't designed to support the use my artist friend was trying to put them to.
All of which is my way of asking whether it might be a useful addition to the session to find people who habitually use museum websites for different purposes (planning a visit, entertaining the kids, doing some personal research, finding pictures for their homework etc) and getting them to talk about their perspective on the perfect site?
All best,
Nick
Nick Poole
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-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Simon Stephens
Sent: 04 June 2014 14:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MCG] Museums Association conference digital session
Hi MCGers,
I am putting together a digital session at this year’s Museums Association conference in Cardiff. The session takes place in the afternoon on Thursday 9 October. It has the title of “What Makes the Perfect Museum Website?” and the aim is to give delegates a chance to think about how their own websites work and what could be changed and improved.
As part of this, we are hoping to get two speakers at the start to give a 10-minute presentation each. We were hoping that one person would speak about the importance of using museum websites from a marketing point of view, with a primary focus of driving visitors through the door of the museum, while the other speaker would look at sites from a curatorial or educational side - i.e talking more about online content and community. We'd be interested in hearing about the ways these approaches differ, how they can work together, and the various challenges each raises.
If any MCGers are interested in speaking at the session or have suggestions for speakers please get in touch.
Cheers
Simon
Simon Stephens
Deputy Editor
Museums journal
T: 020 7566 7820
E: [log in to unmask]
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