Thursday, September 29, 2011

Coming Full Circle: Some ExhibiTricks Changes


It's been 360 posts and over four years since I first started the ExhibiTricks blog.  I've been thinking a little bit since this Summer about some changes and additions I'd like to make, so I thought I'd let you know what's coming up.


First of all my sincere thanks to the tens of thousands(!) of folks who tune in every month --- I hope you'll continue to find useful/interesting things here.  I'm planning on continuing with what seems to have settled into a weekly posting mix of commentary, design inspirations, and tips about useful exhibit resources and materials, along with interviews with some of the smartest and most interesting exhibit folks in the biz.  (Speaking of which, next week we'll have a great interview with Beth Redmond-Jones.)

So that all stays.  But I'd like to prototype three new and additional features that I hope will foster a bit more interaction with (and between) my ExhibiTricks readers.

The first new feature is SoapBox, and basically it's a forum for anybody who'd like to pitch an idea, or vent a rant, or just express some creative exhibit-y thoughts in a public forum.  As long as it has at least a tangential museum/exhibit/design connection, I'm happy to give you the podium.   If you're interested in being part of SoapBox, just send me an email.

The second new feature I'm calling ReWind.  After 360 posts and counting, I've started to develop a nice "back catalog" with some really useful information and inspiration that even I dip back into on a continuing basis. It is all searchable, but it also is a bit unwieldy, so I'll regularly dip back into the ExhibiTricks vaults and pull out some "evergreen" posts to add some new intro thoughts and updates to.

Last, but not least, is the Exhibit Doctor feature.  Much of my consulting work, as well as just collegial "shop talk" with folks at conferences or on the phone is about solving common exhibit problems that keep coming up again and again in different museums, and in different contexts.  So I'm soliciting suggestions for nagging exhibition problems that you'd like to submit to the Exhibit Doctor (that's me.)

If I choose your idea/problem, I'll include free calls, emails and research to thoroughly dig into your problem and to provide good resources and options to address your knotty exhibits issue.  The only "catch" is that you allow me to capture all of the process and post it on the blog.  If you'd like to make an appointment with the Exhibit Doctor, send me an email with your pitch or problem.

So that's it for now.  I hope the three new features interest YOU and start adding different facets to your ExhibiTricks experience.  Obviously ReWind will start right away next week, but I suspect SoapBox and the Exhibit Doctor will take a bit more time to gain traction.

I'm looking forward to the next 360 postings!



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