A presentation from Museums and the Web 2009.
Allegra Burnette, The Museum of Modern Art, USA
Charlotte Sexton, The National Gallery, United Kingdom
Joanna Champagne, National Gallery of Art, USA
Dana Mitroff Silvers, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, USA
Using case studies from the Web site redesigns of The Museum of Modern Art, New York (MoMA), the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC (NGA), the National Gallery, London, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), this paper considers the changing role of museum Web sites, outlines the goals of the respective projects, compares and contrasts the different approaches taken, and presents valuable insights from the four institutions.
As of publication, the museums represent the different cycles of a Web site redesign initiative: NGA is in the discovery and strategy phase, the National Gallery and MoMA are in the development stage, and the new SFMOMA site is live. Together the authors of this paper explore the shared challenges we faced in planning, developing, and deploying new and improved Web sites, and present some of the valuable, and painful, lessons learned.
These lessons – applicable to organizations of all sizes – include how to manage staff input, how to keep team momentum and enthusiasm, and how to evaluate all technology options. Within these practical discussions, we also touch upon some of the fundamental, strategic considerations involved in the preparation and planning of a major, cross-departmental endeavor. We hope to offer the wider museum community an opportunity to tap into our recently acquired first-hand knowledge and experience.
Mini-Workshop: Redesign: A survivors guide [Mini-Workshop]
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Redesigning Your Museum’s Web site: A Survivor’s Guide
1. Redesigning Your
Museum’s Web site:
A Survivors’ Guide
Allegra Burnette The Museum of Modern Art
Joanna Champagne, National Gallery of Art, DC
Charlotte Sexton, The National Gallery, United Kingdom
Dana Mitroff Silvers, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Museums and the Web 2009
April 17, 2009
22. Harmonize Web design with
existing physical brand
systems and institutional
values...so that online and
physical experiences can
form a cyclical and
nourishing relationship
43. The Team
EXTERNAL PARTNERS CORE PROJECT TEAM ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Governance:
Information Systems:
Project owner
1 x Production Support
Head of Information Systems
1 x Programmer
Head of Collections
1 x Collection integration
CMS - BoxUK 1 x Technical Support
Core Project team:
Design and IA - Bureau for Internal Departments:
1 x Designer
Information
Visual Affairs 2 x Editors
Education
1 x Administrator
Search Engine Development
1 x Project Leader
Optimisation - I-Level Comms and Media
1 x Project Manager
Curatorial
Photographic
Curatorial:
AV
Collection Information Manager
Plus:
Additional temp staff
44. Q. How do you survive
a website redesign project?
49. 1. Outline your internal capabilities and resources
2. Specify initial technical requirements
50. 1. Outline your internal capabilities and resources
2. Specify initial technical requirements
3. Further define your requirements
51. 1. Outline your internal capabilities and resources
2. Specify initial technical requirements
3. Further define your requirements
4. Remain flexible
52. 1. Outline your internal capabilities and resources
2. Specify initial technical requirements
3. Further define your requirements
4. Remain flexible
5. Think about the launch, but also think long-term
53. Internal Web Teams
SFMOMA = 2 people
National Gallery, London = 5 people
NGA = 5 people
MoMA = 7 people