Where UX and The Smithsonian meet

I heard Barbara Brennan speak about being an exhibit designer with The National Air & Space Museum.  She reinforced the same concepts that we use in software design as they apply to museum design:

1. Know your audience.  For her museum, the audience is huge: infants to elderly.  She has the unique challenge of making an engaging user experience for foreigners who don't have a command of English.  It makes up 40% of her audience.
2. Know your best assets.  They have planes, we have talent, design, and content.
3. Focus on the user experience and the brand will take care of itself.  Direct quote from Michael Bierut.  Being part of the Smithsonian, they have a strong brand, but have never really leveraged it.  They are only beginning to have these discussions.

More great stuff from Barbara.  Will post later.