The Content Strategist as Digital Curator

Posted on December 8th, 2009

I’m convinced that the future of the web is curating content into meaningful packages that really connect with your audience.

These thoughts were originally published in Issue 297 on A List Apart, December 8, 2009

The term “curate” is the interactive world’s new buzzword. During content creation and governance discussions, client pitches and creative brainstorms, I’ve watched this word gain traction at almost warp speed. As a transplant from museums and libraries into interactive media, I can’t help but ask what is it about this word that deserves redefinition for the web?

Curation has a distinguished history in cultural institutions. In galleries and museums, curators use judgment and a refined sense of style to select and arrange art to create a narrative, evoke a response, and communicate a message. As the digital landscape becomes increasingly complex, and as businesses become ever more comfortable using the web to bring their product and audience closer, the techniques and principles of museum curatorship can inform how we create online experiences—particularly when we approach content.

Read the whole article on A List Apart or feel free to discuss here!

Tags: Content Strategy, curation, curator, digital curation, digital curator

8 Responses → “The Content Strategist as Digital Curator”

Ian Alexander

3 months ago

Erin,

Really great article. Congrats.

Ian
andy wolf

3 months ago

Seriously, I don’t know you from Adam, but that article is great. I’ve been thinking about online retailers as curators for a while, and love the analogy.
James Neal

3 months ago

I actually called myself as “content curator” in my personal statement on my current application to graduate programs in library and information science. This post confirms my beliefs! Thanks. Excellent work.
Mark Miller

2 months ago

Erin,

This is one of the most remarkable articles I’ve read in a long time. As the founder and editor of one of SharePoint’s largest online communities, I would love to republish on EndUserSharePoint.com, with full attribution, of course.

SharePoint is Microsoft’s answer to content management and I think the points you make here are directly relevant to my audience.

Great work.
Mark
Sophia B. Liu

2 months ago

Erin,

Thank you for writing this post. Your analysis of the role curation can play in the digital landscape is very much inline with my dissertation research. I am exploring the concept of socially distributed curation and would like to learn more from your expertise in this area. Please feel free to contact me via email.

Awesome work, Sophia
http://sophiabliu.com
bruno spina

1 month ago

loved this article, i started as a researcher in social science then i became a movie director then i became an exhibit curator, then i build up my third company for internet social media communication campaign, i always knew all these “diffrent” activities where link by a structure of thinking, interpretating and action. But you have summerize it perfectly.
I enjoyed reading your article.