Curation
The art of creating value by providing context and meaning to apparently disconnected information bits
Robin Good and
Curation
The curator relationship operates at a fundamentally different psychological level than advertising. An algorithm might know you like blue Oxford shirts, but a tastemaker knows why a particular blue Oxford matters in a lineage of blue Oxfords. This contextual knowing, placing objects in historical and cultural frameworks rather than recommendation... See more
Sarah Johnson • Issue 007: The Curation Renaissance
Curation provides value even to the most mundane objects value by connecting them with a point of view, with a perspective or purpose that makes them stand out in the chaotic, unorganized tsunami of superficial published content.
To thrive in a future dominated by generative AI, individuals and organizations must prioritize the development of curation skills. This involves investing in training and education that emphasizes critical thinking, industry expertise, and communication.
Gleb Tsipursky: With the rise of AI, creativity shifts from generation to curation
3 critical skills for the future:
a. critical thinking
b. industry expertise
c. effective communication
Unlike influencers, curators do not lead with self-exposure, but with interpretation. A curator’s authority comes not from personal relatability, but from perspective, context, discernment, and intellectual labour that has since been lacking in recent social media years.
the influencer won't last 2026. here's why.
Then there’s curation theater.
Posting endless ‘favorite reads’ lists composed entirely of current bestsellers. Ticks the boxes, but doesn’t quite reveal taste. Reposting LinkedIn hot takes, adding cute hashtags but not really contributing much commentary
Posting endless ‘favorite reads’ lists composed entirely of current bestsellers. Ticks the boxes, but doesn’t quite reveal taste. Reposting LinkedIn hot takes, adding cute hashtags but not really contributing much commentary
Sangeet Paul Choudary • Humans as 'luxury goods' in the age of AI
"Expert curation occurs when an actual human being who is, theoretically, an expert in a given topic, weighs the quality of the information presented in making her source selections.
Expert curation can also include an editorial element, in which the expert not only judges content for quality but also provides a point of view."
Source:
... See moreTo understand is to enter into a relationship with people, with things, with ideas. AI can imitate the language of relationships, but it stands outside of them. Our task is to keep knowledge alive by remaining in conversation with the world that gives it meaning.
The Meaning of an Apple
References
Ahn, A. (2013). “You are not a curator”. Bullett. Consulted February 4, 2013. http://bullettmedia.com/article/you-are-not-a-curator/
Arnold, K. (2006). Cabinets for the curious: Looking back at early English museums . Hants & Burlington, Ashgate Publishing.
Belk, R. (2013). Collecting in a consumer society . Abingdon, Oxfordshire, & New... See more
Ahn, A. (2013). “You are not a curator”. Bullett. Consulted February 4, 2013. http://bullettmedia.com/article/you-are-not-a-curator/
Arnold, K. (2006). Cabinets for the curious: Looking back at early English museums . Hants & Burlington, Ashgate Publishing.
Belk, R. (2013). Collecting in a consumer society . Abingdon, Oxfordshire, & New... See more
Curating the Digital World: Past Preconceptions, Present Problems, Possible Futures | MW2013: Museums and the Web 2013
Relevant Curation Articles - 2008-2013
A recommendation from Emily Sundberg's Feed Me isn't an endorsement; it's an anointing. The mechanism isn't mysterious: curators build trust not by being right but by being wrong in interesting ways. They earn the right to be occasionally mystifying because they've proven they're making actual choices rather than optimising for metrics. This... See more