Ideas for Giving Thanks in your Museum

This is the time of year in the U.S. when we celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday meant to remind us of the people and things in our lives for which we are thankful.  Despite the turmoil in the world, I am thankful for my family, my work, and the friends I share my life with.

I'm also very thankful for ExhibiTricks Readers and Subscribers!  I really appreciate all of you who read this blog each and every week.  If you ever have ideas or suggestions for ExhibiTricks, feel free to contact me.

And now, without further ado, here is one of my favorite posts about ways of thanking our donors, community supporters, and stakeholders:

Many Ways To Say Thanks

Most donor recognition installations in museums are really ways to say thanks.  And who could argue with that?

But you can thank someone with the equivalent of a cheap mass-produced card you grabbed on your way home, or with the donor recognition version of a homemade loaf of bread accompanied by a carefully chosen book inscribed to the recipient.

In the past, I've asked museum folks for images of interesting and thoughtful examples of donor recognition.  I received an avalanche of images --- many more than I'll include in this post, so I've gathered all the images that I've received into a free PDF available for download from the POW! website.

Just click on the "Free Exhibit Resources" link near the center-top of any page on the website, and you'll see an entire collection of free goodies, including the newly added link called "Donor Recognition Examples."  Once you click on the link you'll get the PDF of images. (Be patient --- it's a BIG file.)

So what sorts of images and examples of donor recognition did I receive?  They fell into several larger categories, namely:

• Frames and Plaques

• Walls and Floors

• Genre Specific

• Mechanical/Interactive

• Interesting Materials

• Digital Donor Devices

So let's take each of the six categories and show a few examples of each.


FRAMES and PLAQUES

I'm sure you've seen lots of bad examples of this donor recognition approach, but there is a lot to be said for the simplicity (and creative twists!) that can be employed using this technique.

The image at the top of this post is a nice example of "helping hands" (but still essentially plaques) in this category from the Chicago Children's Museum.

I like the use of colors and the physical arrangements in the following two examples. The first pair of images comes from the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh (with bonus colored shadows!)

The next is a set of back-lit elements designed by Skolnick A+D Partnership for the Children's Museum of Virginia --- The entire unit is essentially one big lightbox!

Light is also used as a strong element in the image below from Macalester College.  The folks from Blasted Art used Rosco's Lite Pad product to create the glowing text.

Lastly, I like this simple example from the MonDak Heritage Center.  Just frames, but it does the job nicely.

WALLS and FLOORS

Sometimes donor recognition wants to be BIG, in an architectural sense, so interior or exterior walls are used  --- and sometimes even floors!

Here are two exterior wall examples that stood out.  The first from the Creative Discovery Museum

 

And the second from the Oakland Museum.  They are both colorful and animate nicely what would otherwise be a big blank wall.

 Here's a nice interior wall from Discovery Gateway, in Salt Lake City

 

Each of the pieces is back-laminated graphics on acrylic.  (Here's a detail.)

Of course, even the best-laid donor recognition plans can get circumvented by operational issues!

 

And lastly, here's a floor example from The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History.  It's the Periodic Table with donors in each element.

GENRE SPECIFIC

Several people sent examples of genre-specific donor recognition designs.  A popular motif is to use collections of objects or images, especially in Natural History Museums.

Here is the Specimen Wall from the California Academy of Sciences.  It's an elegant, low-tech solution featuring specimen reproductions encased in laminated glass. The wall was conceived by Kit Hinrichs and realized in collaboration with Kate Keating Associates, with fabrication by Martinelli Environmental Graphics and glass by Ostrom Glassworks.

Here's a clever use of old school tabletop jukeboxes to recognize donors to the radio station WXPN, put together by Metcalfe Architecture & Design in Philadelphia.

MECHANICAL / INTERACTIVE

Just as interactive exhibits are fun and memorable, donor recognition can be, too!

Gears are a popular motif in this regard.  The first image (Grateful Gears) is from an installation at the Kentucky Science Center, while the second is from the Madison Children's Museum.

INTERESTING MATERIALS

Sometimes, the design element that gets people to stop and actually read the donor names is the unusual materials that the donor recognition piece is made of. If the materials relate to the institution itself, so much the better!


This first image comes from the San Francisco Food Bank

The next is from the Museum Center at 5ive Points, in Cleveland, Tennessee, which has a strong history of copper mining.  So this intricate donor recognition piece is made from copper!

I love this clever use of miniature doors and windows at the Kohl Children's Museum.  You can open doors and windows to reveal additional information about donors.

The last entry from this section is the truly striking three-dimensional "Donor Tree" from the Eureka Children's Museum in the UK.

DIGITAL DONOR DEVICES

As with all museum installations, digital technology plays an increasing role --- even in Donor Devices.

One unit that stood out was this digital donor recognition device at the National Historic Trails Center that solicits donations in real time and displays digital "rocks" on the rock wall screen, in different sizes—depending on the size of your donation, of course!  A really neat idea that beats a dusty old donation box,  hands down.

As I mentioned earlier, these images are really the tip of the iceberg.  Please check out the entire PDF of all the images I received by heading to the "Free Exhibit Resources" section of my website.

Also, if you have some other really good examples of donor recognition installations or devices, feel free to contact me, and I can share them in future ExhibiTricks posts.

Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and ad-free by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar." 

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

The Sound of "Depth Over Dazzle"

Let's talk about that fancy VR headset gathering dust in your exhibit storage closet. You know the one. It was supposed to revolutionize visitor engagement. It cost more than your annual supplies budget. And now? It's serving as a very expensive doorstop because nobody could figure out how to actually integrate it into the story you were trying to tell.

The siren song of "cutting-edge" tech is hard to resist. But something interesting is happening in the museum world, and it's actually making me optimistic about the future of immersive experiences.

The Shift 

Museums are pivoting toward what Experience Designers are calling "depth over dazzle." Immersive environments that blend scenography with smart interpretive strategy, actually delivering on learning goals rather than just entertaining. Exhibit makers are shifting toward intentional technology—solutions that enhance the story rather than becoming the story themselves.

This isn't just some pie-in-the-sky theoretical framework. This shift is happening, and the results are genuinely exciting.

When Sound Tells the Story Better Than Pixels

Take the V&A's DIVA exhibition (which ran through April 2024). Instead of plastering walls with touchscreens or forcing visitors to juggle tablets, the V&A handed out wireless headsets that delivered a completely hands-free sonic experience.

As visitors explored costumes worn by everyone from Maria Callas to Beyoncé, the audio triggered automatically based on their location. Gareth Fry's sound design used 3D spatial audio. So you'd hear Aretha Franklin's voice seemingly emanating from her actual costume, or feel surrounded by the orchestra that Judy Garland would have experienced on stage.

The tech (tonwelt's supraGuide SPHERIC system with ambisonics and 360-degree surround sound) was sophisticated, but visitors didn't experience it as "technology."  They experienced it as being there.

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That's intentional technology.

Shipshape Tech at The Cutty Sark 

Another great example of "intentional tech" is the Cutty Sark Soundscape at Royal Museums Greenwich.

Instead of animated AR pirates or touchscreen ship schematics, the Greenwich team created an immersive ASMR-style audio experience. Visitors choose wind conditions (from light air to near-gale) and hear what the 150-year-old tea clipper would have actually sounded like: creaking wood, waves, wind in the rigging, and tea chests being loaded in the hold.

The technology enabling this (Bluetooth beacons triggering location-aware audio through the Smartify app on visitors' own phones) disappears into the background. What stays with visitors is the visceral understanding of what it felt like to sail this ship.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with visitors reporting they felt like they were "stepping back in time." One visitor said, "The sounds made the ship's history come alive in a way I never expected."

Why This Matters (Beyond My Personal Pet Peeves)

This "depth over dazzle" approach counters the exhausting "tech for tech's sake" treadmill that's been burning out museum professionals and confusing visitors for years.

How many times have you:

• Implemented a "must-have" tech solution that was obsolete in 18 months?

• Watched visitors skip past your expensive interactive to read a simple, well-written label?

• Spent weeks troubleshooting tech problems instead of refining your interpretive message?

• Justified a technology purchase to board members based on the wow factor rather than learning outcomes?

Instead, the "depth over dazzle" approach says:

Stop. What's the story? What do visitors need to understand, feel, or experience?  What's the right tool to make that happen?

Sometimes that tool is sophisticated spatial audio. Sometimes it's a well-placed bench and a thoughtful label. 

Your Takeaway Questions

If you're planning your next exhibition right now, here's my challenge: Before you say yes to any piece of technology, ask these questions:

1. What's the core experience we're trying to create? (Not: what cool tech have we seen lately?)

2. Does this technology serve the story, or is it the story? (If visitors remember the tech instead of the content, you've failed.)

3. Will this still make sense in 5 years? (Or will it be another dust-gathering VR headset?)

4. Can visitors engage without instructions? (If you need signage explaining how to use your interactive, it's too complicated.)

The sweet spot is when technology becomes so well-integrated that visitors stop thinking about it as technology. They're just having an experience. They're just learning. They're just feeling something.

And that's what depth over dazzle really means. 

What's your experience with intentional vs. dazzle-focused tech? Have you found the sweet spot in your own exhibits? Let's talk about it in the Comments Section below.

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"

Quick Exhibit Inspiration: Playing with Toys!

You know that feeling: you’re staring at a blank whiteboard, the exhibit deadline is looming, and all your ideas feel… well, *flat*. You can’t nail that spark of pure, unadulterated fun.

Here’s an old ExhibiTrick: Your best interactive inspiration is probably sitting in a toy box or toy store nearby.

Toys are the OG interactive experiences. They've been perfected over decades to deliver maximum engagement with minimal instruction. We spend countless hours designing the perfect interpretive panel, when the real genius lies in the effortless appeal of a simple mechanism.

The Toy-to-Exhibit Translation

Let's break down the process of transforming a beloved toy into an engaging museum exhibit concept. We'll pick a classic and walk through the steps.

Imagine you're brainstorming for an exhibit on decision-making, probability, or even historical predictions and prophecy. 

What toy immediately springs to mind as a fun, accessible entry point? The Magic 8-Ball!

Here's how we might take it from a novelty toy to a compelling interactive:

Step 1: Deconstruct the Toy --- What Makes it Fun?

First, we ignore the "magic" and look at the mechanics and psychological hooks.

The Action: Shaking it, turning it over.

The Reveal: A mysterious answer floats into view.

The Outcome: Usually vague, sometimes humorous, occasionally eerily accurate.

The Interaction: It's a personal question, a personal answer.

The Core Appeal: Seeking guidance, the thrill of the unknown, lighthearted "fortune-telling."

Key Takeaways for an Exhibit: We want to replicate the physical interaction, the mysterious reveal, and the element of seeking an answer, even if the answer is just for fun or discussion.

Step 2: Identify the Learning Objective - What's the Exhibit About?

Okay, it's fun, but what does it teach or explore? Given our initial brainstorming:

Decision-Making: How do we make choices? Do we rely on gut feelings, data, or external advice?

Probability: What are the chances of a specific answer appearing? How many possible answers are there?

Historical Context: How have humans sought answers to the unknown throughout history (oracles, crystal balls, tarot)?

Critical Thinking: How do we interpret ambiguous answers? Do we believe them?

Let's focus on Decision-Making and the role of "chance" versus "choice."

Step 3: Brainstorm Exhibit Concepts - How can we re-imagine it?

Now for the creative leap! How can we make a giant, interactive 8-Ball that explores decision-making?

Initial Idea: Just a big Magic 8-Ball that gives you silly advice. (Too simple, not enough learning.)

Better Idea: A giant 8-Ball that poses a real dilemma and gives you an answer, prompting reflection.

Even Better Idea: "The Decision Sphere"

Physical Form: A large, walk-up spherical console, perhaps translucent, with an internal mechanism.

The "Question": Visitors are prompted to think of a simple yes/no personal dilemma (e.g., "Should I try something new today?", "Is it time for a snack?"). We keep it light to encourage participation.

The "Shake": A robust lever or spinning wheel that visitors physically interact with, mimicking the 8-Ball's shake. This activates the exhibit.

The "Reveal": Instead of one answer, maybe multiple possible answers float up (or are projected onto the sphere's interior) for a moment before one settles into a clear viewing window.

The "Answer": The answer isn't a simple "Yes" or "No." It's a thought-provoking statement related to decision-making, like:

"Consider your options carefully."

"Sometimes the best choice is the one you make yourself."

"Seek more information before deciding."

"Go with your gut instinct today."

The Prompt: After the answer, a small screen or graphic panel encourages reflection: "Does this answer surprise you?", "What factors really influence your decisions?" Or even: "Compare your answer to what others received today!"

This concept maintains the fun, mysterious interaction of the original toy but pivots it towards a deeper, more reflective learning experience about how we approach choices. It's no longer about getting the answer, but about thinking about how you get to an answer.

Step 4: Refine and Implement - Adding Layers

To make "The Decision Sphere" even better:

Data Visualization: A side screen could show a real-time tally of how often each "answer" appears throughout the day, illustrating probability in action.

Historical Echoes: Panels around the exhibit could feature images and brief descriptions of historical methods of fortune-telling or decision-making (runes, tea leaves, augury).

Sound Design: A satisfying "whir" and "plunk" when the answer appears.

Theming: A subtle, slightly mystical but still playful aesthetic.

By following these steps, we take a simple toy, strip it down to its engaging core, connect it to a learning objective, and build an exhibit that's both fun and thought-provoking.

So, next time you're stuck, step away from the design software and go grab a toy. For "research," of course!

All signs say, "Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts!" 

It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"

More Museum Conversations on the POW! YouTube Channel!

Over the past few years, I've been fortunate to chat with museum professionals from all over the world on my POW! YouTube channel.

Click on over to YouTube to find videos about topics such as "The Definition of Done" with Christian Greer and "Protototyping (With A Twist!)" with Adriana Magni.

There is a growing library of over 100 videos to choose from, so why not browse the POW! YouTube channel and discover the latest conversations with museum colleagues?  And if you have recommendations for people I can bring to YouTube (maybe even yourself?) please let me know!

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"

Quick Museum/Exhibit/Design Inspiration: OpenWebcamDB

OpenWebcamDB is a fun website that gathers and coordinates hundreds of connections to open/public live webcams worldwide.

Whether you are watching pandas frolic on the iPanda feed from China or getting hypnotized by the ballet of mechanical movements of robotic containers in a shipping warehouse, OpenWebcamDB can inspire your next program, exhibition, or even artwork!

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"

The Solo Exhibit Designer's Survival Guide

Let's set the scene: You're the "exhibit team." Not part of the team—you ARE the team. Content research, design concept, fabrication planning, vendor coordination, installation supervision, and probably writing the press release, too. Your business cards should just say "Department of Everything."

Sound familiar? Welcome to the reality of small museums, where "we need a new exhibit" translates to "you need a new exhibit and also figure out how to make it happen with whatever budget is left after we fix the roof leak."

Before you update your LinkedIn status to "seeking opportunities in retail management," take a breath. Some of the most innovative, engaging exhibits I've seen (like the ones pictured in this post) came from solo designers who learned to work smarter instead of just working harder.

Tools and Tips for (Solo) Designers

The Master Project Timeline (Your North Star)

Create a single document that outlines everything: content deadlines, design milestones, fabrication schedules, and installation tasks. Update it regularly. When you're overwhelmed, this document tells you what actually needs attention today versus what just feels urgent.

Pro tip: Work backward from opening day, not forward from today. Identify the absolute drop-dead dates and build your schedule around those.

The "Good Enough" Decision Framework

Not every decision needs to be perfect. Develop categories:

• Mission critical: Affects visitor safety or core learning objectives.

• Important: Significantly impacts visitor experience.

• Nice to have: Makes things better but isn't essential.

Spend 80% of your energy on mission-critical items.

The Vendor Relationship Strategy

You can't do everything yourself, but you can coordinate people who are experts in their fields.

Build relationships with:

• Fabricators who understand museums: They know the durability requirements and budget realities.

• Graphic designers who work fast: They can make your content look professional without endless revisions.

• Installation crews who problem-solve: They'll help you figure out what you didn't think of.

Cheap contractors who cause stress aren't actually cheap.

• The Weekly Reality Check

Every Friday, ask yourself: "What's actually broken versus what just isn't perfect?" Focus your weekend worries on things that could prevent opening or harm visitors. Everything else can wait until Monday.

• The "Close Enough" Celebration

When something is 85% of what you envisioned and is fully functional, celebrate that as a win. Perfect is often the enemy of good enough to open.

• The Emergency Backup Plan

Always have a simple, low-cost fallback option for your most complex elements. If the interactive touchscreen system fails, what's the analog backup that still serves visitors?

When You're Behind Schedule:

1. Identify what can be simplified without losing impact.

2. Move non-essential elements to "Phase 2" (after opening.)

3. Call in favors from your vendor network.

4. Remember: opening with 80% of your vision is better than not opening at all.

When You're Over Budget:

1. Cut features, don't cut quality on what remains.

2. Look for materials substitutions that maintain the visitor experience.

3. Consider phased installation—core exhibit now, enhancements later.

4. Get creative with partnerships and donated services.

When You're Overwhelmed:

1. Go back to your "one paragraph" success definition.

2. Focus on mission-critical items only.

3. Ask for help with specific, defined tasks.

4. Remember why you're doing this work in the first place.

The Long Game

Solo exhibit design is a marathon, not a sprint. Build systems and relationships that make the next project easier. Document what worked and what didn't. Create templates and checklists that reduce decision fatigue.

Most importantly, remember that being the entire team means you get to see your vision through from concept to completion. That's amazing, even when it's exhausting.

You don't have to be perfect at everything. You just have to be good enough at everything to create something meaningful for your visitors.

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"