Website
#metkids
Rebecca Atkinson enjoys this fun and friendly online feature for children
The website of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is grown up and serious. So it’s good to see the gallery launch a new online feature, #metkids, which aims to open the collection up to seven to 12-year olds.
The bright and friendly web pages, created by the museum in collaboration with children, have three main features: an interactive map; a “time machine” that allows users to search the collection; and videos featuring children as reporters, animators and producers.
There is also a blog, which I suspect will be of more interest to parents than their kids.
The illustrated map, a highlight for me, resembles a Where’s Wally adventure book.
There are red and yellow pins that, when clicked, reveal further information and fun facts about objects and the building. From my adult perspective, the map is a bit cluttered and confusing, but the idea of the museum as jam-packed with treasures will no doubt appeal to its intended audience.
The time machine is also fun; once you’ve decided where and when you want to travel back to, a click of the illustrated big red button will take you there.
The search results link back to the map, but I would have liked to see some more “kid-friendly” information about the objects rather than the predictable collections data.
It is great to see museums creating web content specifically for this audience.
The Met hopes to launch an app for kids in due course, which will provide another way for young people to access its collections.
Website
The Counting House Museum
Many small museums still lack professional and modern websites. The volunteer-run Counting House Museum in Malton, North Yorkshire, has revamped its dated website and produced something that is altogether clearer, cleaner and more appealing.
The museum is based in the former offices of Charles Dickens’s lawyer friend Charles Smithson, and is believed to be the inspiration for Scrooge’s Counting House in A Christmas Carol.
The website provides a good level of information about the house and Smithson – including anecdotes about the real-life inspiration for some of the writer’s characters.
But the navigation options could probably be simplified.
For example, why are details about the museum’s displays and collection on the “Christmas Carol” page rather than the more logical “visit us” or “about us” pages?
The design of the site is very good and has been optimised for mobile and tablet use.
With a few tweaks to the content, the Counting House Museum’s website could punch above its weight and do a great job of selling the museum to potential visitors.
App
Kelvingrove Archaeology app
App sheds new light on archaeological collection, writes Rebecca Atkinson
As part of a look at its online learning resources, Glasgow Museums has launched a free iPad app for families and schools that features 90 objects from its archaeology collection.
Accessible and interesting text accompany 360-degree photographs of the objects, casting light on a subject area that is difficult for many audiences to engage with.
It is a shame that the photographs are so dark, although it is great to be able to get a sense of their proportions and to zoom in for extra detail.
The app also tells the story of the original Kelvingrove Museum and the people who created the collection. It is a fascinating story, but the strange design of this app makes it hard to access. There is no clear narrative, and the navigation is confusing.
Despite the rich and well-told stories on offer, this part of the app is ultimately a frustrating experience for its users.
#metkids
Rebecca Atkinson enjoys this fun and friendly online feature for children
The website of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is grown up and serious. So it’s good to see the gallery launch a new online feature, #metkids, which aims to open the collection up to seven to 12-year olds.
The bright and friendly web pages, created by the museum in collaboration with children, have three main features: an interactive map; a “time machine” that allows users to search the collection; and videos featuring children as reporters, animators and producers.
There is also a blog, which I suspect will be of more interest to parents than their kids.
The illustrated map, a highlight for me, resembles a Where’s Wally adventure book.
There are red and yellow pins that, when clicked, reveal further information and fun facts about objects and the building. From my adult perspective, the map is a bit cluttered and confusing, but the idea of the museum as jam-packed with treasures will no doubt appeal to its intended audience.
The time machine is also fun; once you’ve decided where and when you want to travel back to, a click of the illustrated big red button will take you there.
The search results link back to the map, but I would have liked to see some more “kid-friendly” information about the objects rather than the predictable collections data.
It is great to see museums creating web content specifically for this audience.
The Met hopes to launch an app for kids in due course, which will provide another way for young people to access its collections.
Website
The Counting House Museum
Many small museums still lack professional and modern websites. The volunteer-run Counting House Museum in Malton, North Yorkshire, has revamped its dated website and produced something that is altogether clearer, cleaner and more appealing.
The museum is based in the former offices of Charles Dickens’s lawyer friend Charles Smithson, and is believed to be the inspiration for Scrooge’s Counting House in A Christmas Carol.
The website provides a good level of information about the house and Smithson – including anecdotes about the real-life inspiration for some of the writer’s characters.
But the navigation options could probably be simplified.
For example, why are details about the museum’s displays and collection on the “Christmas Carol” page rather than the more logical “visit us” or “about us” pages?
The design of the site is very good and has been optimised for mobile and tablet use.
With a few tweaks to the content, the Counting House Museum’s website could punch above its weight and do a great job of selling the museum to potential visitors.
App
Kelvingrove Archaeology app
App sheds new light on archaeological collection, writes Rebecca Atkinson
As part of a look at its online learning resources, Glasgow Museums has launched a free iPad app for families and schools that features 90 objects from its archaeology collection.
Accessible and interesting text accompany 360-degree photographs of the objects, casting light on a subject area that is difficult for many audiences to engage with.
It is a shame that the photographs are so dark, although it is great to be able to get a sense of their proportions and to zoom in for extra detail.
The app also tells the story of the original Kelvingrove Museum and the people who created the collection. It is a fascinating story, but the strange design of this app makes it hard to access. There is no clear narrative, and the navigation is confusing.
Despite the rich and well-told stories on offer, this part of the app is ultimately a frustrating experience for its users.
