We Forget

We forget.

We forget often, and need reminding.

We forget that we are experts. We can’t unlearn our subject.

We forget we can’t automatically empathize with our visitors’ level of knowledge. We have to actively do so.

We forget we should stop adding just a little more — just a little more insight, just a few more words — to the exhibition we are planning.

We forget that our visitors come to our exhibitions to be inspired for a little while.

We forget they don’t primarily come to have the educational experience we mistakenly believe they want.

We forget our exhibition is not going to grant a master’s degree to our visitors. In an hour. While standing up.

Here’s the thing:
Sometimes we need reminding. We are not our visitors. We have to constantly think about how they feel, how they think, how they get inspired.

Because we forget.

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:
Bid form. A standardized spreadsheet document given to each potential builder who bids on a project. A bid form ensures each contender gives a detailed pricing breakdown in a consistent apples-to-apples format, to allow the owner to fully compare bids.