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Eric Siegel recently forwarded a NY Times review of exhibitions at the  
NY Hall of Science in which the reviewer raved about Mathematica, the  
classic Eames exhibit (40 years old?), noting that despite its age, the  
content keeps the exhibit always-fresh, always-interesting.  Granted,  
this was a NY Times reviewer, and the NY Times staff adores everything  
Modern (the Eames being saints of Modernism), but I took reassurance in  
a critique that looks first at content.

That being said, Mathematica works, I suspect, on the charm of it's  
context within the Hall, overall, which is by-and-large much newer.  A  
museum full of the tired exhibits Charlie Stout described ain't exactly  
destined for greatness.  Charm is one thing.  Dingy is another.

You don't really want a list of the "in" colors, and you know there are  
no global answers to design questions.  A good exercise is to ask your  
team to bring in and share examples (object, images) of appealing  
(timeless?) design--from ANY genre--kitchen appliances, automobiles,  
textiles, hardware, etc--although, in this business, you may want to  
place the limitation that all of these things be in some way geared for  
young folks--and find some things the examples have in common and, if  
luck prevails, you'll have some inspiration for renovation.

___
JasonJayStevens
exhibits . annArborHands-OnMuseum . [log in to unmask]
art . potterBelmarLabs . www.potterbelmar.org . [log in to unmask]



On Jan 28, 2005, at 9:13 AM, Karen Paul wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> *********************************************************************** 
> ******
>
> Charles
>
> Not to take the discussion off topic, we are coming to grips with the  
> issue
> of a dated colour scheme as well.  Several exhibits constructed 15  
> years
> ago are still functioning and well received by visitors.  The  
> difference
> between these and new exhibits we recently bought is quite marked.
>  Exhibits with bright, high energy colours were better received, of  
> course,
> even if the format was a bit dated.
>
> Karen
>
> Karen Paul
> Science Educator
> NIHERST/NGC National Science Centre
> Old Piarco Rd, D'Abadie
> Trinidad and Tobago
> Phone: (868) 642-6112  Fax: (868) 642-1353
> URL: niherst.gov.tt
>
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