Office Supplies Make Everyone Feel Smart

Ah, the humble Post-it.

Classic yellow, light pink, pale blue. Never has an office supply icon been so treasured, yet so reviled. A staple of low-budget interactive experiences for a generation, museum teams either love or hate these little squares. Which side are you on? 

I’m a fan. 

Not because it’s the most novel thing I can come up with. I am a Fan of the Post-it for a different reason: because everyone feels smart using them.

Many visitors won’t admit they’re uneasy with the high-tech doodads we dream up. Some don’t want to spend their day off learning unfamiliar tools, or looking dumb doing it. Observe any gesture-based interactive station for an hour. See?

Not so with office supplies. Office supplies make everyone feel smart.

I am not anti-tech. I am kinda the opposite, y’know? But that doesn’t stop me from being a fan of the Post-it.

Here’s the thing:
Next time, before we ask what would make us feel smart as an idea for a visitor experience, let’s ask what would make our visitors feel smart.

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:
In-kind donation. A non-monetary gift of goods or services given to a museum by a donor or organization. In-kind donations do not involve direct financial exchange. They can be equipment, materials, supplies, consulting time, or volunteer hours.