Creating Exhibitions: Collaboration in the Planning, Development, and Design of Innovative Experiences

by Polly McKenna-Cress, Janet Kamien

“This is a must-read for the nervous novice as well as the world-weary veteran. The book guides you through every aspect of exhibit making, from concept to completion. The say the devil is in the details, but so is the divine. This carefully crafted tome helps you to avoid the pitfalls in the process, so you can have fun creating something inspirational. It perfectly supports the dictum―if you don’t have fun making an exhibit, the visitor won’t have fun using it.”  
―Jeff Hoke, Senior Exhibit Designer at Monterey Bay Aquarium and Author of  The Museum of Lost Wonder Structured around the key phases of the exhibition design process, this guide offers complete coverage of the tools and processes required to develop successful exhibitions. Intended to appeal to the broad range of stakeholders in any exhibition design process, the book offers this critical information in the context of a collaborative process intended to drive innovation for exhibition design. It is indispensable reading for students and professionals in exhibit design, graphic design, environmental design, industrial design, interior design, and architecture.

Genres: Museums, Museology, Art, Nonfiction, Natural History, Reference

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Helen Turnock · Rating 2 out of 5]

So American (derogatory).

[char · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the organization (and textbook-like clipart illustrations) rather frustrating, but I loved the "critical questions" and "further reading" sections for each chapter. That said, I don't doubt the usefulness of the book; I think it's better suited to be read in sections while actually in the process of creating an exhibition, rather than reading it front-to-back like any other book.

[Jesse Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful parallel for any type of creative project.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very useful guidelines and fantastic examples/anecdotes, but bogged down by a poor framing metaphor and just being so jargonistic it felt like reading a general project management book.

[Cira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome. I read it from beginning to end, though it will also function well as a go-to resource. Integrates strategy and process in a pragmatic way, which is a difficult task, especially when this field is uhhh... multifaceted to say the least. Much better presentation and organization of content than the Lords' book (no, not the bible, though many in the field treat it as such). Very insightful content about the nuances of interpretation and narratives too, which is usually glossed over in other texts; the authors here somehow find the balance in conveying the altruistic nature of exhibit development and the practical realities of the craft... without it being pie-in-the-sky or tedious. Only complaint would be I'd like to see more case studies that incorporate evaluation, especially since many exhibits get refurbished or designed iteratively, both with and without evaluators. Overall, highly recommended.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful, but the good work of the authors is undermined by a poorly finished editing job. Though they are the types of mistakes that a casual reader might not notice, I'm guessing that most readers of this volume won't be of the casual sort, and so I would highly recommend a thorough proofread before any new editions are published.

This volume does a very good job of discussing ways that technology can be incorporated without making specific references that date the text.

I found the figures (illustrations) and examples helpful, but occasionally wanted more information only to find that the space for that was taken up by credit lines. In a book so conscious of layout and with text so clearly edited to fit the page, this is the only place I "felt" that scheme. Perhaps an image credit list would have been a better solution.