My Time at TED

Thomas P. Campbell at TED2012: Full Spectrum, February 27–March 2, 2012. Long Beach, CA. Photo: James Duncan Davidson

«I am just back from Long Beach, CA, where I spoke at TED, the annual four-day conference started twenty-five years ago and dedicated to the concept of "Ideas Worth Spreading."» My talk was part of a session called "The Design Studio" curated by architect David Rockwell and editor Chee Pearlman and including: Chip Kidd, Creative Director of Knopf; Liz Diller, Diller Scofidio + Renfro; David Kelley, Founder of IDEO and Stanford's d.school; John Hockenberry, journalist, author and host of WNYC's The Takeaway; John Hodgman, author and "Resident Expert" on Jon Stewart's The Daily Show.

In my eighteen minutes I explored the unique alchemy that can exist between the Met's extraordinary collections, the passionate scholarship of our curators, and the inspired curiosity of our visitors. Drawing on the experience I had long ago with a brilliant teacher who got me to move beyond art historical jargon and really see a work of art, I described the environment that we strive to create in the Met's galleries everyday—one where our audience can unleash their curiosity and connect with objects, both new and familiar. It is an idea that we will continue to encourage as we consider every aspect of your visit to the Museum.

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