The Progress Report
A newsletter for museum professionals that’s serious about audience progress but playful about the process.
Contributors
- Alexa Magladry 1
- Aubrey Bergauer 1
- Ben Mosior 1
- Erin Milbeck Wilcox 2
- Isabel Singer 1
- Isabella Bruno 2
- Jennifer DePrizio 1
- Kelly Cannon 3
- Kimberlee Kiehl 1
- Krista Dahl Kusuma 1
- Kyle Bowen 158
- Lynda Kelly 1
- Nameiko Miller 1
- Rachel Ropeik 1
- Randi Korn 1
- Rebekah Harding 1
- Robert Weisberg 1
- Rosie Siemer 11
- Ruth Hartt 1
- Steve Boyd-Smith 1
- Susan Hawksworth 2
Mapping listening habits to audience goals
Museums often focus on experience goals when listening to audiences, but understanding end goals and life goals can lead to more meaningful and impactful experiences. Reflecting on the "why" behind listening practices is key.
Creativity in management (and research)
A recipe for getting into an open, curious mindset that leads to more creative outcomes - a valuable framework for a community focused on "creative inquiry."
Join the Museums as Stagnation Community
A satirical look at what the opposite of the Museums as Progress community and "progress-space research" would be - and how reflecting on that inverted vision can provide insights into our real goals and methods.
The Object vs. Experience Debate: Exploring the Implications of "Invasively Meaningful" Design
A reader's response to a previous letter sparks deeper questions about the relationship between objects and experiences in museums, and whether designers can ever know an audience's goals better than they do themselves.
Abandoning the Fetish of the Thing: The Case for Experience-Centered Museums
Odyssey Works co-founder Abraham Burickson’s TEDx talk challenges museums to prioritize experiences over objects. An upcoming interview digs into the implications of this “experiential turn”.
Beyond Interest and Practice: Envisioning a “Community of Results”
Communities of interest bring people together, and communities of practice help them develop skills - but a "community of results" focuses on applying knowledge and abilities to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Embracing Grand Gestures: Deep Work Sprints for Museum Professionals
Conferences provide time away from day-to-day tasks, but what if museums encouraged staff to take multi-day creative sprints focused on a singular goal? The MaP Community is piloting a virtual "Eudaimonia Machine" to support deep work.