museumnext keynote from robin dowden and nate solas, walker art center
DESCRIPTION
The Walker Art Center launched their new website in December 2011. The site, a hub for contemporary arts, has been hailed as a 'game-changer' and described as 'a node, rather than an endpoint.' In this MuseumNext keynote, Robin Dowden (Director of New Media) talk and Nate Solas (Sr. New Media Developer) discuss the challenges of bringing this website to life. View a film of this presentation here: http://vimeo.com/44162636TRANSCRIPT
Rethinking the Museum Website
Museum Next 2012
Rethinking the Museum Website
Why does this work at my place and not yours?
Museum Next 2012
Rethinking the Museum Website
Why does this work at my place and not yours?
How to run from villagers with burning torches
Museum Next 2012
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Open Field
Gorilla Yogis
Open Field Suzuki Violins
Drawing Club
Rock the Garden
More than 10,000 people attended Rock the Garden 2011
Thomas Barlow (T. B.) Walker
Public Galleries, T. B. Walker’s home, 1904
Walker Art Galleries, 1954
Walker Art Center School, c. 1942
Spring Dance Festival,1940
Ideas for Better Living, Everyday Art Gallery, 1946
Benches & Binoculars
Dance Works I: Merce Cunningham / Robert Rauschenberg
Dance Works II: Merce Cunningham / Ernesto Neto
Ralph Lemon’s How Can you Stay in the House all Day and Not Go Anywhere?
Tacita Dean: Merce Cunningham performs STILLNESS… (six performances, six films)
Walker Cinema
McGuire Theater
Walker by the Numbers (FY2011-12) –
$18.5 annual budget $185 million endowment 130 full time employees 12,000 works in the collection 590,000 visitors 10 exhibitions 75 performances in music, dance & theater 170 film screenings +++ public, school, & tour programs
Mission –
The Walker Art Center is a catalyst for the creative expression of artists and the active engagement of audiences that examines the questions that shape and inspire us as individuals, cultures and communities.
Leadership
Rethinking the Museum Website –
Launch new site December 1, 2011 Two+ years in development Characterized as “idea hub”
Principles informing the redesign –
Simplification • tighter integration of parts, more uniformity
• flexible interface that can accommodate wide range of content
• moving away from the neighborhood metaphor
• organizing content by type of asset: events, text (articles, blogs), rich media (audio, video), collections (artwork)
Principles informing the redesign –
Multiple audiences • how people use the site versus our self-view
• Walker visitors (physical versus Internet only)
• responding to particular user needs (plan your visit, ticket buyers, art enthusiasts, scholars)
• internal Walker community
Two portals home page calendar (Walker as content provider) (physical visitors)
“Reasons for having a website” – Communicate and advance the Walker’s brand, vision, authority, and voice Promote Walker programs and prompt onsite visitation Generate revenue—both earned and contributed Aid in onsite visitation Create and advance relationships/community Serve as a content resource
What makeswalkerart.org
different?
. . . arts organizations, faced with a lack of media coverage, are creating their own coverage, and taking the dialogue directly to their audiences.
“
Marianne Combsmpr.org, December 2011
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/state-of-the-arts/archive/2011/12/walker-art-center-launches-new-website.shtml
“Justo Hidalgo, 24symbols
Quoted in O'Reilly Radar 1/19/2012
Etc..
(quick)
Site Tour
ravedelay on flickr
UI / UX
Fun
Walker DNA
Director
Operations and Administration
Finance and Accounting
Merchandising
BuildingOperations
HumanResources
Information Technology
Curatorial and Program Services
Film/Video
Program Services
Library
RegistrationPerforming Arts
Visual Arts
Design andEditorial
Development and Finance
Annual Fund
Special Projects Fundraising
Education and Community
Prgms
New Media Initiatives
Audience Engagement and Communications
FacilityRentals
Marketing and Public Relations
Marketing and Public Relations
Government Relations
WALKER ART CENTER
Capital Campaign
Visitor Services
Organization Chart by Function 7/08
Director
Operations and Administration
Finance and Accounting
Merchandising
BuildingOperations
HumanResources
Information Technology
Curatorial and Program Services
Film/Video
Program Services
Library
RegistrationPerforming Arts
Visual Arts
Design andEditorial
Development and Finance
Annual Fund
Special Projects Fundraising
Education and Community
Prgms
New Media Initiatives
Audience Engagement and Communications
FacilityRentals
Marketing and Public Relations
Marketing and Public Relations
Government Relations
WALKER ART CENTER
Capital Campaign
Visitor Services
Organization Chart by Function 7/08
Director
Operations and Administration
Finance and Accounting
Merchandising
BuildingOperations
HumanResources
Information Technology
Curatorial and Program Services
Film/Video
Program Services
Library
RegistrationPerforming Arts
Visual Arts
Design andEditorial
Development and Finance
Annual Fund
Special Projects Fundraising
Education and Community
Prgms
New Media Initiatives
Audience Engagement and Communications
FacilityRentals
Marketing and Public Relations
Marketing and Public Relations
Government Relations
WALKER ART CENTER
Capital Campaign
Visitor Services
Organization Chart by Function 7/08
Walker Publishing
Magazine
Print on demand
Getty OSCI site
Walker Publishing
Magazine
Print on demand
Getty OSCI site
Process
Redesign Roadmap: Major Milestones 2010
January requirements gathering for calendar March divide home page & calendar design
between design studio & new media May paper prototype testing of main navigation June calendar tested with friends & family (UX wars) July all staff meetings: announce a new conceptual
framework August staff departures, restructuring & rebuilding
Redesign Roadmap: Major Milestones 2010
January requirements gathering for calendar March divide home page & calendar design
between design studio & new media May paper prototype testing of main navigation June calendar tested with friends & family (UX wars) July all staff meetings: announce a new conceptual
framework August staff departures, restructuring & rebuilding
Redesign Roadmap: Major Milestones 2010
January requirements gathering for calendar March divide home page & calendar design
between design studio & new media May paper prototype testing of main navigation June calendar tested with friends & family (UX wars) July all staff meetings: announce a new conceptual
framework August staff departures, restructuring & rebuilding
Redesign Roadmap: Major Milestones 2010
January requirements gathering for calendar March divide home page & calendar design
between design studio & new media May paper prototype testing of main navigation June calendar tested with friends & family (UX wars) July all staff meetings: announce a new conceptual
framework August staff departures, restructuring & rebuilding
Redesign Roadmap: Major Milestones 2010
January requirements gathering for calendar March divide home page & calendar design
between design studio & new media May paper prototype testing of main navigation June calendar tested with friends & family (UX wars) July all staff meetings: announce a new conceptual
framework August staff departures, restructuring & rebuilding
Redesign Roadmap: Major Milestones 2011
January home page discussions redux March development begins in earnest August 9 Board Attendance Task Force meeting August 16 still debating home page models August 30 announce web editor hire (starts mid-Sept) Sept 21 staff presentation (villagers with torches) October 21 Board presentation October 31 beta release December 1 public launch
Redesign Roadmap: Major Milestones 2011
January home page discussions redux March development begins in earnest August 9 Board Attendance Task Force meeting August 16 still debating home page models August 30 announce web editor hire (starts mid-Sept) Sept 21 staff presentation (villagers with torches) October 21 Board presentation October 31 beta release December 1 public launch
Walker
FEATURE ARTICLES (from calendar or other places)
WALKER BLOGS
-Featured Article 1
-Featured Article 2
-Featured Article 3
-Featured Article 4
WALKER CHANNEL
Headline
Description of video Description of
video Description of video Description
of video Description of video Descrip-
tion of video Description of video.
HeadlineBeginning of blog or short description Beginning of blog
or short description Beginning of blog or short description
Beginning of blog or short description . . . (more)
SEARCH THE WALKER ARCHIVES
Headline of what is showing above
NAV NAV NAV NAV NAVNAV
FROM THE ARCHIVES
(rotating slides)
(rotating slides)
EXHIBITIONS PERFORMANCE FILM/VIDEO NEW MEDIA DESIGN EDUCATION OTHER
AT THE WALKER
FEATURED/CURATED SPACE
Regis DialoguesEvery day for this month we will be posting a new essay
about a film critic, culled from 20 years of Regis dialogues.
(rotating slides)
HeadlineBeginning of blog or short description Beginning of blog or short
description Beginning of blog or short description Beginning of blog
or short description . . . (more)
ARTWORK OF THE DAY
HeadlineBeginning of blog or short description Beginning of blog
or short description Beginning of blog or short description
Beginning of blog or short description . . . (more)
(ArtsConnected)
The Walker Art Center is a catalyst for the creative expression of artists
and the active engagement of audiences. (Or other language)
NAV
HIGHLIGHT HIGHLIGHT HIGHLIGHT
WALKERHIGHLIGHT
A CATALYST FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION
MARCH 13, 2010
FEATURE STORIES
PHILIP BITHER DISCUSSES THE HISTORY OF
PERFORMANCE ART IN THE GALLERIES
The beginning of this story beginning of this story beginning of this story beginning of this story beginning
of this story beginning of this story beginning of this story beginning of this story beginning of this story
beginning of this story beginning of this story beginning of this story beginni.
AT THE WALKER VISUAL ART
NEW MEDIA
PERFORMING
ARTS
FILM
EDUCATION
DESIGN
FROM THE ARCHIVES
WALKER CHANNEL
HEADLINE
HEADLINE
HEADLINE
HEADLINE
HEADLINE
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
HEADLINE
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
BLOG POST
Walker
FEATURE ARTICLES (from calendar or other places)
WALKER BLOGS
-Featured Article 1
-Featured Article 2
-Featured Article 3
-Featured Article 4
WALKER CHANNEL
Headline
Description of video Description of
video Description of video Description
of video Description of video Descrip-
tion of video Description of video.
HeadlineBeginning of blog or short description Beginning of blog
or short description Beginning of blog or short description
Beginning of blog or short description . . . (more)
SEARCH THE WALKER ARCHIVES
Headline of what is showing above
NAV NAV NAV NAV NAVNAV
FROM THE ARCHIVES
(rotating slides)
(rotating slides)
EXHIBITIONS PERFORMANCE FILM/VIDEO NEW MEDIA DESIGN EDUCATION OTHER
AT THE WALKER
FEATURED/CURATED SPACE
Regis DialoguesEvery day for this month we will be posting a new essay
about a film critic, culled from 20 years of Regis dialogues.
(rotating slides)
HeadlineBeginning of blog or short description Beginning of blog or short
description Beginning of blog or short description Beginning of blog
or short description . . . (more)
ARTWORK OF THE DAY
HeadlineBeginning of blog or short description Beginning of blog
or short description Beginning of blog or short description
Beginning of blog or short description . . . (more)
(ArtsConnected)
The Walker Art Center is a catalyst for the creative expression of artists
and the active engagement of audiences. (Or other language)
Redesign Roadmap: Major Milestones 2011
January home page discussions redux March development begins in earnest August 9 Board Attendance Task Force meeting August 16 still debating home page models August 30 announce web editor hire (starts mid-Sept) Sept 21 staff presentation (villagers with torches) October 21 Board presentation October 31 beta release December 1 public launch
Redesign Roadmap: Major Milestones 2011
January home page discussions redux March development begins in earnest August 9 Board Attendance Task Force meeting August 16 still debating home page models August 30 announce web editor hire (starts mid-Sept) Sept 21 staff presentation (villagers with torches) October 21 Board presentation October 31 beta release December 1 public launch
Redesign Roadmap: Major Milestones 2011
January home page discussions redux March development begins in earnest August 9 Board Attendance Task Force meeting August 16 still debating home page models August 30 announce web editor hire (starts mid-Sept) Sept 21 staff presentation (villagers with torches) October 21 Board presentation October 31 beta release December 1 public launch
Redesign Roadmap: Major Milestones 2011
January home page discussions redux March development begins in earnest August 9 Board Attendance Task Force meeting August 16 still debating home page models August 30 announce web editor hire (starts mid-Sept) Sept 21 staff presentation (villagers with torches) October 21 Board presentation October 31 beta release December 1 public launch
Artistic Program Directors’ Concerns – They have not had a chance to embrace the new conceptual framework and don't understand the decision making process that got us here. The home page does not reflect the Walker as a multidisciplinary art center and arts presenter. Walker's artistic programming is not visible on the home page or site navigation.
Redesign Roadmap: Major Milestones 2011
January home page discussions redux March development begins in earnest August 9 Board Attendance Task Force meeting August 16 still debating home page models August 30 announce web editor hire (starts mid-Sept) Sept 21 staff presentation (villagers with torches) October 21 Board presentation October 31 beta release December 1 public launch
The advantage of being located in the middle of the country
...how are we doing?
What can we measurenow?
Is the content being consumed?
40%
more visits
Brand newaudiences
Out of state...
Global...
150%*
50%more links in
walkerart.orgis a
destination
21%more engagement
(3+ minutes, 3+ pageviews)
2X More2X Morereturn visitsreturn visits
(return visit within 2 weeks)
How do people say they're using the site?
I'm visiting the site today to...
a) Plan a visit
b) Conduct professional or academic research
c) Find specific information for personal interest
d) Browse casually
e) Make a transaction
So??
Sustainable?
All content starts on the web
Next: Collections
So??
The web allows 100% of the population to access the best 1% of museum content.
Paraphrasing Chris Lloyd @ theconversation.edu.auh/t Mia Ridge @ openobjects.blogspot.com
What content can you host that is unique to your museum?
Linking = Authority
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/community/blogosphere/2012/04/25/vetting-wikipedia-for-wikilink/
https://www.gov.uk/designprinciples#second
h/t @frankieroberto via http://openobjects.blogspot.ca/2012/04/whats-right-question-about-museum.html
Robin Dowden@rdowden
Nate Solas@homebrewer