The Spark Behind Paul Allen's 'Experience'

	Startup: Art by Design
	Photo: www.startupgallery.org

When philanthropist and Microsoft (MSFT Quote) co-founder Paul Allen wanted to pay homage to the first personal computer, he tapped the talents of two women who helped make his Experience Music Project museum a must-see stop in Seattle.

Andrea Weatherhead and Diane Andolsek were behind many of the award-winning elements of the Frank Gehry-designed museum, most notably Sound Lab, where visitors could learn to mix a platinum record, roar Joan Jett's "I Love Rock and Roll" in front of an audience of thousands and harmonize with Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart.

Since forming Weatherhead Experience Design Group six years ago, they have been lauded by ASCAP and won five Gold MUSE Awards from the American Association of Museums, a Webby and the Communication Arts Award of Excellence.

TheStreet.com caught up with the team at their Seattle loft after the recent opening of New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science's Startup: Albuquerque and the Personal Computer Revolution, which they designed and curated.

TheStreet.com:"Experience" is a nebulous word. Why have it in your company name?

Diane Andolsek:"Experience design" is a real term in the design field that means aggregating disparate elements -- from education and technology to cognitive science and storytelling -- so that you can experience something on multiple levels. ...