What's the Point of a Museum Website?

“I don’t believe in Museum Websites, I just believe in me.”-John Lennon

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

We are building the most kick-ass Conestoga wagons you’ve ever seen.

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

ONLINE COLLEC-TIONS.

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

Research?

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

"Those pictures on Flickr are all well and good, but you should really see them in person."- James Davis, Tate

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

This is the only part of your website that should be explicitly designed to drive traffic to the building.

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

Disambiguate the physical visit from the digital experience, completely.

- Marriedtothesea.com

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

The new tools make our wagons laughable.

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

AGILECONTENTDEVELOP-MENT.

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

Limitless content, limitless experience.

(Or for those so inclined, “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.”)

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

Focus on being better enablers, rather than betterproducers.

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

Content is not king.

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

Answer questions people are actually asking.

(Also marriedtothesea.com)

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

Focus solely on making the unique stuff.

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

Don’t get bogged down in authorityissues.

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

So, um, yeah…But what would the museum website of the frakking future actually look like?

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

It would (somehow) be meaningful alongside everything else we do already.

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

It would (somehow) be a destination unto itself, as well.

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

It would (somehow) be utterly amazing.

Ignite Smithsonian, April 11, 2011 What’s the Point of a Museum Website? – Koven J. Smith

Thanks!Koven J. Smith• Denver Art Museum•@5easypieces• http://kovenjsmith.com• ksmith@denverartmuseum.org• Monkeys!