Guard, Visitor Assistant or Learning Mentor?

[Image courtesy]

Another upshot of the co-design session was a discussion about 'who would help' when older or less experience folks came across the table.

As a true technologist, I pointed out the table was touch sensitive and looked friendly and everyone who saw it's rippley surface would want to touch it. As there were several more mature members of the group, I was promptly righted.

The group were very keen there was someone in the room who would help show them how easy the table was to use, but would also point out 'interesting bits' they might like.  We'd like to have a learning mentor. Again, my museo voice kicked in - well who would do that, we can't afford to have someone stood around. You already do. We do? Yes, the guards.

Thoughout the project, a couple of the visitor assistants have joined the sessions to support the group, offer history and knowledge about the house. Also as we have carried out activities in the discussion their have been other visitor assistants in the space. The group saw the visitor assistants who shared their experience as learning mentors, the group who stood around - as guards. We'd always referred to both sets of people as visitor assistants, but the term had never resonated with the group and therefore had named them with according to their percieved behaviours.

I'd had a similar discussion before at an un-conference session at MuseumNext. A contributor to the session was a PhD student who had evaluated the social interaction around the interactive table at the Cabinet War Rooms. The discussion finally led us to the conclusion to make innovative design easily navigable by visitors, having a welcoming friendly face is very important.

For me, the most suprising element was the insistance that this should be a mentor role. Supportive and knowledgable about the house. Asking the visitors for the right sort of questions and pro-active in offering advice. I'm pretty sure the museum would hope that perfectly describes their visitor assistants.

So, what do you think, is it the name or the behaviour that needs to change?

Tuesday 23 Mar 2010 by Lindsey | No Comments
Filed under: collaboration and partnerships

Can the public create better experiences?

This morning I ran a co-design workshop with  a local literacy group . The aim of the day was for the group to use the Microsoft Surface Table and consult on the interface and flow will work.

Describing the tables and how they work has been a bit of a nightmare. As a shortcut we've mentioned their a bit like 'Minority Report' or X Factor (at the point when the judges decide who to take to their flash villas and everyone hopes they don't get the groups). It turns out everyone knows at least one of those examples. For this particular group it has been the inspiration for their project and work with artist, Jack Chesterman. We hoped the session today would provide us with some feedback on how the 'X Factor' application could work.

A lot of amazing and inspiring ideas came from the group  in terms of the software, but more importantly about how to design the  whole experience. Their ideas were cost-effective, simple and completely  inclusive. They were looking at how to invite and talk to groups like  them, groups who would normally not come to a stately home because they  "aren't for people like us". The whole experience has left me inspired -  but also considering the role of professional consultancy within the museum sector.

I'm not a fan of reality TV and as such I don't believe that inviting the public to develop content is the panacea for creating great experiences. Facilitating consultancies with members of the public has been one of the most rewarding parts of this project. Their ideas have directly effected what the museum does and how other people experience the space. And I like that.

I'd  love to hear from anyone with similar experiences. Do you know of any  projects where visitors invited to be design consultants?  Have you worked with groups in this way and how has this impacted on  your practice?

Tuesday 23 Mar 2010 by Lindsey | No Comments
Filed under: collaboration and partnerships, playful museums

Weeknotes 002

The financial year ending has crashed into Frankly + Green this week and hasn't really left yet. As I write this, I'm struggling not to include everything in brackets, add a purchase order number and total up the numbers of letters devide  by the number of words and check the formula. (I did - surprisingly it equalled 93)

Like most government funded projects, iTransform this week has been about sorting out and spending all the beans in the can by March 31st. I could mutter all day about this crazy situation organisations find themselves forced into - but I'll spare you the details and look on the positive. The most interesting result has been the speed at which we have had to make decisions, offer solutions and agree outcomes has been exhilarating.

One absolute highlight of the week has been hearing some of the evaluation surrounding the iTransform project. The discussion  on the impact of the partnerships on both the groups and the museums is starting to become tangible, it's awsome (that's in the true awe inspiring sense of the word rather  than the 'totally, high five' kind of way).

I found on Wednesday I was being followed by RaleighChopper on Twitter, we had a chat about the fact I broke my tooth on his handlebars whilst learning to ride but now he's gone. Not to the giant Sheffield Rack in the sky but to be an exhibit in the Nottingham Museum. The project, My Life as an Object, is a wonderful one by Rattle. It has inspired me to write half a blog post which I will finish once I can think beyond =SUM(C46:C48)

I'm working with a colleague to develop a new organisation, we seemed to be going great guns until it came to the name. At the moment, we are throwing around a number of ideas, all of which seem to have some double meaning or unfortunate connotation (we would like to introduce the 'practically intelligent group' ) So for the next few weeks it would appear we will have to mumble into our handbags if anyone asks us who we are.

Last thing, the mums, museums and smartphones research is going through a second draft and we hope to be sending out super soon.

Monday 22 Mar 2010 by Lindsey | No Comments
Filed under: weeknotes
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