An introduction to the Royal Pavilion and Museums' Story Drop app, the problems encountered in its development, and its use as a platform for community content. Contains several weary references to British weather. Talk given at Museum Next 2014 conference in Newcastle, UK, on 19 June.

1. Story Drop
Museum tales
go to town
Kevin Bacon
Digital Development Officer@fauxoegrafik

2. Innovation
Co-production
World Stories gallery, Blogger in Residence, Murder in the Manor etc.
Engagement Elsewhere
Dr Brighton’s War, Micro-museums, syndication etc.
Micro-museums
Blogger in
World Stories

3. What is it?
• Location based ‘treasure hunt’
app
• Free download for iOS and
Android devices
• Developed by Surface
Impression
• Not that original...
• Driven by CMS for both curatorial
and community content

4. {Pick a tour}

6. {Unlock}

7. • Originally developed for Digital
R&D application in 2011
• Funded through Major Partner
Museum bid 2012
• Soft launched at 2013 Brighton
Digital Festival
• Promotion paused until
accompanying Dr Brighton’s War
exhibition, July 2014
Does it work?

8. 1. England is a wet country
Dominic Alves, Flickr CC BY

9. 2. Confusion
Great idea, but...
by HuwBrighton
I love the idea of this app, but I can't
work out how to use it, which is
really frustrating because I’m sure
it's great when you know how.
[App Store review]

10. Where’s
my GPS?
I have to
walk there?
Yes, I’ll have
to look at it
one day...
My battery
is running
low!
How do I
unlock it?
Sod that,
it’s
raining.

11. I want to
do a tour
for it!
This will go
with my
exhibition!
This can
support my
funding bid!
I like the
idea...

12. {A Bloody Big Button}

13. Where now?
• New model of guiding, not demanding
• Focus on the stories
• What was designed as a digital experience
has become a publishing platform...
• But will it find an audience?

14. Thank you!
kevin.bacon@brighton-hove.gov.uk
@fauxtoegrafik
http://bit.ly/1aGr9cY
http://bit.ly/1bH2kjI