The Art World and the World Wide Web

Our text on Mobile Responsive Design (see page 61) focuses
on the challenges of designing gallery sites that work well on
the ever-increasing number of mobile devices. Here we explain
what responsive design means and why galleries should harness
this new approach to website design to expand their reach to
mobile users.
Our interview with Howard Shaw, President and Director
of Hammer Galleries (see page 73), talks about how important
it is for galleries to incorporate technology into their business
mix—but in thoughtful, artful ways that serve to reinforce the
gallery’s brand. Shaw is a digital fan, but skeptical of technology
fads. He believes that, just as a gallery’s physical space should
be designed in a way that best frames the artworks it sells, so
too should the gallery’s website.
Any gallery that has tried to present an overview of its
exhibition history knows how essential it is to document
exhibitions and the artists’ work—the gallery’s most valuable
assets. In our interview with Tom Powel (see page 99), he talks
about how he got started providing photography and video
services to the art world and the importance of high quality
documentation of exhibitions.
Featured on page 138 is a case study of Sperone Westwater
Gallery’s elegant new website, which showcases the benefits of
responsive design. It’s a dynamic website with a beautiful sense
of authority and a design sensibility that respects and reinforces
the gallery’s well established and admired print identity. Navigation
is easy and the site displays pleasingly across a wide range of
devices, from desktop computers to tablets to smartphones.
Over the years, many gallerists have asked themselves, “If I
can manage my website and email online, why can’t I manage
8