This article features critiques of the Darwin Centre, a state-of-the-art science and collection facility at the Natural History Museum in London. Stephen Pizzey, Director (and Founder) of Science Projects in London, Ian Simmons, Science Communication Director at the Centre for LIfe in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and Harry White, Science Centre Consultant at Techniquest in Cardiff, Wales, UK, share their analysis of the exhibition and assess its strengths and weaknesses.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Stephen PizzeyIan SimmonsHarry White
In this article, John Chiodo, Design Director at Gallagher and Associates, identifies areas of friction that can develop between team members from within institutions and with consulting firms during the collaborative exhibition process. Chiodo provides several examples and shares observations and recommendations based on his 25 years of experience working in teams made up of in-house museum staff and design consultants engaged in developing new interpretive exhibitions or museums.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
John Chiodo
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, Phyllis Rabineau, Vice President for Interpretation and Education at the Chicago History Museum, explores the tensions that are unique to history exhibitions. Rabineau shares highlights from conversations with Chicago History Museum colleagues, who have been in the field for 10 years or longer.
In this article, Barbara Cohen-Stratyner, Judy R. and Alfred A. Rosenberg Curator of Exhibitions at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, discusses the importance of including a wide array of in-house staff in the early planning phases of an exhibition. Cohen-Stratyner provides a "Communication Check-List" that exhibition planners can use to allay potential frictions that arise when in-house staff are not consulted or communicated with in the early stages.
In this article, Alan Jacobson, President of ex;it and BAJdesign, shares the lessons he learned in Rwanda, while building a memorial to the 1994 Genocide, in which 1,000,000 people died in 100 days. Jacobson recounts his personal journey in Rwanda as well as how this experience reshaped his core design principles.
In this article, Mikko Myllykoski, Experience Director at Heureka, The Finnish Science Centre, describes the exhibit design and approach of a new exhibition gallery, Heureka Classics, which honors the museum's 20th anniversary. The idea behind the exhibition was to recycle some of the museum's best exhibits within a simplistic Nordic design featuring electronic labels.
This article, written by three senior members of Hands on! Inc., an exhibition master planning, design, and fabrication firm, addresses the reality of green exhibition design. The authors interviewed colleagues and professionals in the field and discovered several key themes that illuminate concerns and issues associated with green exhibit design.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Greg BelewKathy Gustafson-HiltonSharon HandyLyn Wood
In this article, Jonathan Katz, CEO of Cinnabar, Inc., describes the development of the California Academy of Science's new Kimball Museum of Natural History and the challenge of integrating the Academy's commitment to the principles of environmental sustainability into the exhibit design itself. This was particularly challenging when it came to designing "green" specimen displays. This article is adapted from a Case Study originally posted on www.exhibitfiles.org.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Jonathan Katz
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, Dottie Miles, Exhibition Manager at Longwood Gardens and Lecturer at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, explores the lessons learned from the collaborative and creative approaches of museum studies programs that might enrich the practice of museum professionals. Miles compares her experience as a graduate student in Museum Exhibition Planning and Design to that as a working professional. Miles concludes that the elements of critique and collaboration, which are mainstays of the graduate experience, should be important elements of the field at large.
In this article, Tiffany Sakato, museum studies graduate student at NYU and exhibition media intern at the National September 11 Memorial Museum, explores how American graduate programs in museum studies are preparing students to think and operate globally. Sakato argues that this trend is sprouting from the personal interest and motivation of the students themselves.
In this article, Linda Norris, Managing Partner of Riverhill, recalls her experience as a teaching Fulbright Scholar in Ukraine. Norris focused on professional development in museums through workshops and direct consultations with museums throughout Ukraine. This article summarizes Norris's findings about the state of museums in Ukraine and her personal revelations about museums and museum work.
In this article, Nina Simon, principal at Museum 2.0, presents the opportunities and challenges for different kinds of museums in pursuing participatory visitor engagement. Simon addresses the challenges and opportunities for history museums, art museums, science museums and science centers, and children's museums.