In this article, Jeff Hayward, Director of People, Places & Design Research, defines the role of museum evaluators by explaining what they do, who they do it for and why, the skills they have, and how they see themselves in relation to other exhibit-related professionals. With input from colleagues, Hayward also describes issues associated with the profession, like the question of credentialing and the role of evaluators in the exhibit planning process.
This article explores the ways museums can utilize portable devices (i.e cell phones) as a way to engage visitors in their exhibits. Featured are three museums experimenting with this technology in their exhibit spaces. Authors include Wayne Labar, Vice President of Exhibitions and Theaters at the Liberty Science Center, Denise Bressler, an Exhibit Developer and Project Manager at the Liberty Science Center, David Asheim, Founder and CEO of Guide by Cell, Peter Samis, Associate Curator of Education and Program Manager of Interactive Educational Technologies, and Stephanie Pau, Associate
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Wayne LaBarDenise BresslerDavid AsheimPeter SamisStephanie Pau
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, James Sims, principal of Threshold Studios, explains the work and value of exhibit designers. In particular, Sims focuses on an exhibit designer's expertise and practice.
The article is a summary of the comments and discussions a session at the 2006 AAM conference that addressed what museums in the fields of art, history, and science might learn from each other and how museums might benefit from "cross-pollination." Panel participants were Eric Siegel, Executive Vice President for Programs and Planning at the New York Hall of Science, Benjamin Filene, Director of the Public History Program at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, Deborah Schwartz, President of the Brooklyn Historical Society, and Jennifer MacGregor, Curator of Visual Arts at Wave Hill.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Eric SiegelBenjamin FileneDeborah SchwartzJennifer MacGregor
In this article, Dan Tomberlin, an exhibit and graphic design consultant, investigates virtual museums. Tomberlin presents several definitions of these online museum-like experiences and then highlights several noteworthy museum sites. This article is a reprint from the "Exhibitionist" vol.15, no.2, Fall 1996.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Dan TomberlinNational Association for Museum Exhibition
In this article, Kathleen McLean, Principal of Independent Exhibitions, explores the importance of criticism for museum exhibitions. McLean includes a model of how to assess an exhibition as a chronicle of personal experiences. This article is a reprint from the "Exhibitionist" vol. 12, no. 2, Fall 1998.
In this article, Janet Kamien, principal of Janet A. Kamien Museum Consulting, discusses controversial museum exhibitions. Kamien uses recent examples to argue that all controversy associated with exhibits is "situational," and these controversies usually stem from issues within the museum and staff and rarely from the actual subject matter.
In this article, Marjorie Schwarzer, Professor of Museum Studies at John F. Kennedy University in Berkeley, California, describes eleven of the most influential exhibitions from the 20th century, according to NAME members surveyed for her book "Riches, Rivals and Radicals: 100 Years of Museums in America."
This article features perspectives from a variety of exhibit design consultants about their work and trends in the field. Authors include Douglas Simpson, Associate and Senior Exhibit Designer at Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc., Christopher Chadbourne, President of Christopher Chadbourne & Associates, Jeffrey Kennedy, President of Jeff Kennedy Associates, Inc., Michael Roper, Creative Director at Experience Media Group, Krent/Paffett/Carney Inc., Sara Smith, Director of Exhibit Development at Amaze Design, Inc., Sari Boren, Principal and Exhibit Developer at Wondercabinet Interpretive Design
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Douglas SimpsonChristopher ChadbourneJeffrey KennedyMichael RoperSara SmithSari BorenPeter KuttnerLarry Bell
In this article, Jennifer Bine, Project Director at the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), explores the role of project managers as key members of the exhibit development process. Bine analyzes how project managers have changed the structure and operation of museum exhibition teams at their institutions.
In this article, Penny Jennings, an exhibit developer at West Office Exhibition Design, examines the role of exhibit developers. With input from colleagues, Jennings highlights the work that exhibit developers do and how the profession has changed in the last ten years.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Penny Jennings
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, Eugene Dillenburg, an Exhibit Developer at The Science Museum of Minnesota, examines the relationship between the exhibit profession and professional training. Dillenberg surveyed exhibit workers--department chairs, commercial contractors, museum studies professors, and program graduates--to better understand the influence of museum studies on exhibit practice.