If something moves, it becomes important — whether we planned it or not. Why? Because we are built that way. We evolved to detect saber-toothed tigers in the bushes by peripheral motion, flashing light, and sudden sounds. In exhibitions, that means …

When we talk about creating “memorable experiences,” most of the heavy lifting is getting done by two different emotions working together: awe and wonder. They are related, but they are not the same thing. Awe is WOW. Wonder is OOH. …

If you are reading this, you are very likely involved in exhibition making. So today … here’s to you. What job lets you turn knowledge, objects, space, emotion, and visitor behavior into one physical experience?

One of the fastest ways to make an exhibition feel more expensive is simple: Make all the white lights the same color temperature. Many exhibition spaces accidentally mix lighting color temperatures. Bleh. …

Wondering what kind of interactive to make for your new exhibition? Well, you kinda can't go wrong with a quiz. It's not because they're easy to make. A good quiz takes work. It's because quizzes secretly communicate something …

Political leaders have argued that museums should emphasize national pride rather than difficult history. Yes, museums should not overwhelm visitors. But there is a difference between handling history carefully and removing it entirely. …

Some difficult history exhibitions overwhelm visitors. Others are so restrained that visitors feel almost nothing. How do we navigate these two extremes? Here’s one way: the Inzovu Curve, developed during genocide memorial work in Rwanda. …

Many of us make exhibitions on subjects that are emotionally and politically difficult. (Some of us do nothing but.) War. Slavery. Genocide. Colonialism. Refugees. Terrorism. Injustice. In museum-speak, this is difficult history. …

“Want to get married under a giant extinct lizard skeleton?” ”I thought you’d never ask.” Exhibition halls and rotundas can make excellent event spaces. We need rentals. Without them, our financial health has one less thing to rely on. …