Museums are more than exhibition centers.  And they’re definitely not boring. To raise awareness of the broader capabilities and challenge perceptions of stodginess, the Smithsonian Institute has launched a major promotional campaign.  The campaign, aimed at 18- to 34-year-olds (whose perceptions are most mis-aligned with the goals for the campaign), attempts to make the Smithsonian … Continue reading →

Reflections on Museums 1: Tour Buses, Advance Organizers, and Truth in Organizational Communication

This is the first of four posts from 2010 that explore issues in designing for learning in museums and that I am re-publishing on this new blog about museums. One of the more interesting surprises of my recent visit to Europe was my discovery of the city tour—you know, those double-decker buses that drive around … Continue reading →

Review: Maple Museum (Montreal)

Visited June 2012. We stumbled onto this museum while walking through Vieux Montreal. We were walking down a hundreds-year-old street with chic stores and foodie restaurants, and saw a sandwich sign on the street in front of an ice cream parlor announcing the Maple Museum, free admission. They didn’t need to say more. Quick Review … Continue reading →