Exhibit Maker's Toolkit: Skitch

Skitch is a great Mac-based tool for simple image grabbing and manipulation. Perfect for sticking annotated images (like the one above of my daughter during a recent museum visit!) into emails, reports, webpages, etc.

Skitch was developed by the fine folks at Plasq (check out their tool Comic Life also) and it can be downloaded via the Skitch website. They have a great intro video that you can watch to get a sense of what Skitch can do.

Have fun!

Creating Exhibitions

Mark your calendar! The Creating Exhibitions Symposium, sponsored by MAAM (Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums) is coming up in April in Philadelphia.

This first annual event promises to be an exhibit-palooza!

Follow this link for more information and the preliminary program.

WD-40, The Museum Exhibit Developer's Friend!

Of course you know about WD-40, but have you really unlocked all it's potential as an exhibit problem solver?

One of my favorite unexpected uses of WD-40 from my Children's Museum days was to use it to easily remove crayon marks from exhibit gallery walls!

Well, the fine folks who make WD-40 have created the "Offical List of 2000+ Uses" for WD-40. Check out their webpage or handy downloadable PDF.

The WD-40 website lists all sorts of fun information for exhibit-minded folks including the reason why the stuff is called WD-40 in the first place!

Sustainable Museums. What happened to COSI Toledo?

In case you hadn't heard, COSI Toledo closed down permanently on December 31, 2007, after 10 years of operation.

I think it's a little sad and scary that one of the early "brand(ed) names" of the science center business, COSI, has taken such a drubbing in both its greatly expanded Columbus location, as well as in its now-defunct Toledo satellite.

Unfortunately, the news of museum closings, like COSI Toledo's, begs several important questions: 1) Are the traditional business models of museum operation truly sustainable? 2) Is the public really willing to support museums directly (through admissions, contributions, etc.) and/or indirectly through taxes, millages, etc.? 3) Should the IRS that grants 501 (c) 3 non-profit status for museums insist on more realistic business plans? All tough questions, which I don't claim to have the definitive answers to, but I am interested in starting a dialogue. So, what do you think?


Here's a link to some comments on the situation from some people who live in Toledo.

UPDATE: Now the folks at COSI Toledo are trying to make a go of it by offering outreach programs to local schools.

Acne Medicine Removes Pen Marks?!?!

Well here's a new one from the "Baby Toolkit" blog. Apparently, acne creams that contain benzyl peroxide, in combination with sunlight, remove ink marks from plastics without causing damage to the underlying material or painted highlights.

Of course, it sorta makes you wonder about putting the stuff on your face and walking into direct sun, though! Nevertheless, a handy tip for exhibits folks.

Vischeck: A Colorblindness Design Tool

Vischeck is a cool website that allows you to simulate (as well as correct for) colorblind vision of documents and websites.

A nice way to be aware of another segment of our audience.