What Makes Us Human?
Being human-centered means putting people at the center of your work.
This month, our coffee break picks remind us of some of what makes us human: a desire to be accepted, the grace to be vulnerable, and the recognition of our individuality and complexity.
September Coffee Break Picks
AMANDA’S PICK
Remember: You’re Doing Great!
“I am often feeling anxious and worried about how I am doing in life. Am I being a good parent, partner, coworker, daughter, friend, etc.? Our family has embraced a mantra from comedian Tom Papa to help us curb these anxieties: ‘You’re Doing Great!’ If you need a little levity and self-esteem boost, check out Tom Papa’s ‘You’re Doing Great’ comedy special on Netflix or book. I recommend listening to the audiobook through the Hoopla app (via most local libraries). But, even if you don’t check these out, just remember: ‘You’re Doing Great!’”
HANNAH’S PICK
Slow Down
“We recently discussed Jackie Armstrong’s AAM blog post on trauma-informed practices museums should adopt. Our conversation focused on her recommendation around rejecting urgency: What would it look like if we slowed down and did less? How might doing less—and in turn, avoiding burnout, deepening relationships, and creating more space for reflection—actually mean accomplishing more for each other and our audiences? As September brings in the usual whirlwind of post-summer bookings, programs, and events, we encourage you to remember Armstrong’s reminder: ‘In museum work, no one will die if we slow down.’”
EMILY’S PICK
Visitors Are Not Empty Vessels
“I recently listened to the Matters of Experience podcast featuring Ed Rodley, co-founder of The Experience Alchemists, where he discussed instinctive design, which inspired my most recent post on Kera Collective’s Learning Hub. One thing that struck me was his discussion of the holistic museum experience, a humbling reminder that visitors do not enter museums as empty vessels, and they have a variety of experiences in a museum before they even get to its core experiences, such as exhibitions or programs. In particular, it got me thinking about what is and is not realistic for an exhibition to accomplish and whether museums should expect to achieve some of their more lofty outcomes through exhibitions—such as changes in attitudes or behaviors.”
What’s New At Kera?
We’re so excited for the beginning of fall! We have a busy schedule lined up with conferences. Emily will be attending the Association of Science and Technology Center’s annual conference, Ebony will be attending the Association for Art Museum Interpretation’s annual convening, Cathy will be attending the EPIC conference, and Stephanie and Hannah will be attending the Museum Computer Network conference.
We have a few new projects that we’re looking forward to starting soon. We’ll be working with the MIT Museum, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino, and the Bronx Museum of the Arts. We’re grateful to work with such wonderful clients!
Cathy is teaching a class at The George Washington University! The class is “Visitor Perspectives: Museum Evaluation,” which is a part of GWU’s Museum Studies MA program.
On our Learning Hub last month, Emily reflected on whether exhibitions can really change visitors’ perceptions, and Katie gave a 101 on all things front-end evaluation.
Moment of Wonder
“During a work trip to Denver, I popped into History Colorado to see the Sand Creek Massacre exhibition. What really caught my attention, though, was Virgil Ortiz Revolt 1680/2180: Runners + Gliders. I was introduced to the Indigenous futurists’ concept of ‘slipstream,’ which connects past, present, and future. Ortiz’s storytelling, bringing together his artworks and vision with centuries-old Cochiti sculptures and Ancestral Puebloan pottery, was mesmerizing. Definitely the coolest thing I have encountered in a history museum.”
— Amanda
