Scope creep is the gradual, unacknowledged expansion of work beyond what was originally agreed upon, without corresponding official changes to the budget, schedule, or expectations. Scope creep is not just “the project getting bigger.” …

A tight timeline is one of the most common causes of project stress. Deadlines are approaching. Teams are overlapping. People are working late. Everything is compressed and urgent. But “tight timeline” can mean different things. …

Exhibitions have a constant tension. Are we giving information? Or creating engagement? Of course, the answer is, “Both! Duh.” But let’s dive into that, because “both” isn’t a thorough answer either. Imagine an Information/Engagement Spectrum. …

Someone might ask you to include a historical timeline in your next project. After all, they’re everywhere. Which is actually part of the problem. If you do decide to make one, here are a few challenges you could try …

“Double-loaded gallery” is a term we use in the studio. It’s when exhibits or displays are placed equally on both sides of a long gallery or hallway. (We stole it from architecture, where “double-loaded corridor” means doors constantly on both sides.) …

Exhibition budgets are never … no, uh, wait, I mean always … tight. But tight budgets don’t necessarily limit exhibitions. They just force better decisions. So what do we decide to do when the budget is tight? Good question. Here are ten tips. …

In exhibition projects, we hear “best practices” all the time. The phrase sounds reassuring. Proven. Settled. As if someone out there has already figured out the very best way. Trouble is, it’s not true. The underlying concept is useful, though. …

Some exhibitions focus mainly on reading. That’s okay. Most visitors don’t come to read. But sometimes words work. And in those cases, low-tech interactive elements can help make the experience more engaging. …

In big box stores, “destination department placement” is the strategy of putting high-demand items far from the entrance, so customers have to walk past everything else to reach them. This is also known as “back-of-store anchoring” …

There is a pattern that shows up in almost every exhibition project. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. At the very beginning of a project, you can change almost anything. Layout. Storyline. Budget. Media ideas. The overall concept. But then …

What books could you study to learn exhibition design? There isn’t just one textbook for the field. Many show up in courses and offices. And because tech, culture, and practice continue to change, new editions are always of interest. …

Exhibition design seems like it’s been around forever. Museums have been around a long time. So have world’s fairs and galleries. But as a profession, exhibition design is actually quite new. …

Today, the second moment when text-to-image AI can now help: mid-design pre-rendering. After the early concept phase, something important happens for any team using 3D software: the digital white model …

Last time, we looked at what AI text-to-image design tools can do well right now, and where they still fall short. With that in mind, we’ve found visual AI helpful at two stages in the design process. So far, just two. …

Welcome to Part 1 of “AI as a Visual Design Tool for Exhibitions” Week. MtM usually focuses on timeless topics, but this week is about what’s happening right now. So this article might only be reliable for about 45 seconds. Here’s the current situation: …

If you’ve ever looked at the data sheet for a monitor, projector, or LED wall for an exhibition … (not my best opening hook, but stay with me) … you might have seen a number followed by the word “nits.” This little word is important. …

If you ask exhibition teams what 3D software they use, you’ll get many answers. Our software world is mixed. But after a while, you start to notice the same names coming up. Three in particular: …

Many of us work with boards of trustees throughout our careers, but we aren’t sure what they do. I know I wasn’t for … um, a while. But that’s not surprising. Staff handle the daily operations, while boards only meet from time to time. …

The Iron Triangle is one of the most important project management concepts. Many know it. But do we respect it? Let’s unpack it. First, every exhibition project is defined by a triangle: scope, time, and cost. …

All our visitors "carry over" expectations from their lives into our exhibitions. Are we actually meeting those expectations? For example, 100% of our visitors use their phones dozens of times on the same day of a visit. …