When Exhibition Design Got Its Name

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.

Before the mid-1900s, exhibitions were put together by all sorts of people: curators, architects, graphic designers, theater set designers, preparators, and lighting experts.

Everyone pitched in to create exhibitions.

But nobody had the title of exhibition designer.

The profession started to take shape in the 1950s and 1960s, when science centers, traveling shows, and corporate exhibitions became more popular. Projects got bigger. New job titles, such as exhibit planner and exhibit developer, began to appear.

In the 1970s and 1980s, things changed. People began calling their work exhibition design. Conferences were formed, and the process got more organized.

That’s when the field truly got its name.

Here’s the thing:

Exhibitions have a long history. But exhibition design as a profession is still fairly new.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably one of the people still helping to invent it.

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:
World's fair. A major international event where the pavilions of countries and companies show off technology, culture, industry, architecture, and future ideas. The term is now outdated and largely replaced by “world expo,” the modern official name for these globally organized events.