transforming streakers, strollers, and studiers into stewards -- nai workshop 2014
TRANSCRIPT
Transforming Streakers, Strollers, and Studiers into Stewards
Presented by Sarah Helwick LisleLead Interpretive Planner
Texas State Parks
I’m Sarah, and I plan exhibits.Who are you?
Session Goals
Session Overview• Interpretive Media• Exhibit Experiencers• The 3-30-3 Rule• Design and Layout• Interpretive Writing Tips• Final Thoughts• Questions and Comments
September 26, 1921
September 26, 2014
8 SecondsThe average adult attention span in 2013(8 Seconds) 12 Seconds
The average adult attention span in 2000(12 Seconds)
9 SecondsThe average attention span for a goldfish (9 Seconds)
Source: http://www.statisticbrain.com/attention-span-statistics/
Interpretive Media
Communicate through WORDSCommunicate VISUALLY
What do they have in common?
Interpretive Media
In a well-developed interpretive media product, the text, graphics, and other elements are brought together through effective design and composition to create opportunities for audiences to form their own intellectual and emotional connections with the meanings of the site’s resources.
- Eppley Institute Interpretive Media Course
Wonderful Waysides
Exhibit Experiencers
Ooooh, Pick me!
Me, me, me!
Exhibit Experiencers
THE STREAKER • is in a hurry
• wants info fast, if at all
• is drawn to visuals
• wants to get to the resource now
THE STROLLER • takes a slower pace
• is not in a big hurry
• looks for things of interest
• will linger for things that interest them
• is here for a while
• wants to experience all the content
• is most likely to get your take-home message
THE STUDIER
The 3-30-3 Rule
3 SECONDS
The amount of time it should take for your audience to know what your wayside is about.
30 SECONDS
This should give you enough time to
understand the main idea and
supporting subthemes.
3 MINUTES
The amount of time it should take to read
an entire panel.
I’ll give you 3 seconds,
maybe.
I’ll linger for about
30 seconds.
I’m here to stay. I’ll read
it all in 3 minutes.
So, how do we do it? By creating opportunities for audience types to advance through quality design and writing.
Design and Layout
• Make it organized and give a sense of hierarchy.
• Create portals with text and images.• Use design to help tell your story.• Make everything count.
Make it organized and give a sense of hierarchy.
Title Here
Create portals with text and images.
Title Here
Choosing Images
With a contrasting combination of soft purple petals and a spiny center dome, the purple cone flower attracts a variety of pollinators.
Shutterbug Wannabe
Choosing Images
With a contrasting combination of soft purple petals and a spiny center dome, the purple cone flower attracts a variety of pollinators.
Gengirl, Shutterstock
Use design to help tell your story.
Make everything count.
Interpretive Writing• Use your voice. • Embrace action verbs and visual language.• Make it readable and enjoyable.• Make it accurate.• Make it thought-provoking.
Use Your Voice
Who is speaking?
“Silphium laciniatum (Compass Flower, Compass Plant or Rosinweed) is a species of flowering plant in the genus Silphium. It is native to east-central North America, from southern Ontario and New York south to Alabama and west across the prairies to North Dakota and Colorado south to Texas.”
Embrace action verbs and visual language.
“This yard-square relic of original Wisconsin gives birth, each July, to a man-high stalk of compass plant or cutleaf Silphium, spangled with saucer-sized yellow blooms resembling sunflowers. It is the sole remnant of this plant along the highway, and perhaps the sole remnant in the western half of our county. What a thousand acres of Silphiums looked like when they tickled the bellies of the buffalo is a question never again to be answered, and perhaps not even asked.”
Make it readable and enjoyable.
Make it accurate.
Make it thought-provoking.
Final Thoughts
• You have 3 seconds to get your audience’s attention (lowest common denominator).
• We can’t meet the goal of interpretive media if people don’t stop to look.
• They need a portal. It’s the writing AND the layout!
Lake O.C. Fisher, San Angelo State Park
Questions? Comments?
