Museum Materials Hacks: When Home Depot Meets High-Touch Design

Today, we're diving into the delightfully scrappy world of unconventional exhibit materials. When creativity kicks into overdrive, and the hardware store becomes your new best friend. 

Because sometimes the best exhibit solutions are hiding in aisle 7, next to the paint brushes.

Here are some of my favorite "Wait, That's Not What It's For" materials:

Pool Noodles

Those colorful foam cylinders aren't just for cannon-balling into pools anymore. I've seen them used for:

• Edge Protection  -- slice lengthwise and slip over sharp corners.                          

• Cable Management  -- hollow core = perfect conduit for wiring.  

• Kid-friendly barriers -- Zip-tie them together for the world's friendliest crowd control                      

• Padding for shipping crates -- Cut to fit, way cheaper than custom foam.

Pro tip: Buy them off-season in bulk. 

Shower/Curtain Rings 

These little metal or plastic rings are the unsung heroes of flexibility.

• Quick-change graphics -- Hang banners that swap out seasonally.

• Modular displays -- Connect lightweight panels that reconfigure easily.   

• Interactive elements --Create flip-through graphic cards.

• Budget-friendly hardware  -- Sometimes you need 50 rings and $0.79 each beats custom fabrication costs.

Velcro

Industrial-strength Velcro is your secret weapon for:

• Removable artifact labels -- For non-invasive mounting. 

• Modular wall systems --Panels that stick and unstick without damaging surfaces. 

• Interactive components -- So visitors can move exhibit elements around safely.

• Temporary installations -- Perfect for pop-up exhibits/graphics in awkward spaces.

PVC Pipe: The Lego of Adult Museum Professionals

• Custom display stands -- Adjustable height, lightweight, paintable.

• Cable raceways -- Run power and data wherever you need it.

• Modular structures --Think jungle gyms, but for artifacts.

Magnetic Sheets

Thin, flexible magnetic sheeting transforms any metal surface into an interactive playground.

• Changeable graphics --Print directly onto magnetic material.  

• Kid-height interactive zones -- Magnetic poetry, anyone?

• Staff work areas -- Instant bulletin boards on metal cabinets.

 

Household Items with Museum Potential:

• Ice cube trays -- For organizing small artifacts during installs.

• Lazy Susans for rotating displays -- Because everything is better when it spins.   

• Drawer organizers -- For tool storage in Maker Spaces.

• Tension rods --For instant, non-permanent hanging systems.

Reality Check!

Before you go wild with the zip ties and duct tape, let's insert a quick Reality Check:

When to DIY: Quick fixes, temporary installations, tight budgets, prototyping, staff work areas.

When to call the Pros: Anything structural, high-traffic areas, permanent installations, safety-critical components, anything involving valuable artifacts.

The Golden Rule: If visitors will touch it, lean on it, or if it's holding something irreplaceable, spend the money on proper materials and installation.

So, next time you're wandering through a hardware store, grocery store, or even scrolling through Amazon, ask yourself: "How could this solve my exhibit problem?"

You'd be amazed at what creative solutions emerge when you stop thinking about objects in terms of their intended purpose.

The best museum design hack is the one that works for YOUR space, YOUR budget, and YOUR visitors. Now go forth and MacGyver responsibly!

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"

18 Years of ExhibiTricks!

The ExhibiTricks blog turned 18 this summer!

Since June 2007, I've been posting roughly once a week -- so I've built up quite a "back catalog" of ideas to share.

Here are four "blasts from the past" that are among the most popular ExhibiTrick posts:

Are Exhibit Timelines So Boring Because of the Lines? 

There are soooo many timelines in exhibitions -- can't we make them more interesting, both physically and conceptually?

Hayao Miyazaki's Museum Manifesto

Hayao Miyazaki is a film artist who has created some amazing animated films for Studio Ghibli in Japan. He has also created one of my all-time favorite museum manifestos, which I think is worth revisiting from time to time.

Many Ways To Say Thanks

Most donor recognition installations in museums are really ways to say thanks.  And who could argue with that? Here's a post with lots of interesting examples.

Are Screens Killing Museums?

I still think museums default to screen-based solutions too often, without really considering other design alternatives.  This post is memorable for me for the amount of "hate mail" it generated!

THANKS to everyone who has been along for the ride -- whether for the whole eighteen years, or for just the past few months.

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"

Back to Bulgaria!

I'm excited to be heading back to Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, in just a few days to kick off the FIFTH edition of the MUSE Academy program sponsored by the America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF).

The MUSE Academy will equip Bulgarian professionals from museums and other cultural organizations with the tools to create compelling exhibits and tell powerful stories that will keep visitors returning for more.

I am doubly excited to share the MUSE Academy teaching stage with colleagues Isabella Bruno and Christina Ferwerda!

Also check out this article from the ABF website, which shares more information about my work and the MUSE Academy. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram, where I will post live updates from Bulgaria!

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"

Beyond Buttons, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Analog.

I get it. You walk into a museum planning meeting and someone inevitably says, "What if we just put a touchscreen on it?" It's like the exhibition equivalent of putting bacon on everything – sure, it works, but sometimes you need to step back and remember that not every problem needs a digital solution.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Luddite. I'm typing this on a computer, after all (shocking, I know). But there's something enjoyably subversive about creating engaging, interactive experiences that don't require a single pixel, USB port, or software update. 

The Case for Going Analog

There's something primal about physically manipulating objects. We're tactile creatures who spent thousands of years figuring out the world through our hands, not our fingertips on glass.

And here's the kicker: analog interactions are often more memorable. When was the last time you remembered a specific touchscreen interaction? Now think about the last time you turned a really satisfying crank or pulled a lever that made something dramatic happen. 

Mechanical Marvels That Actually Work

The Mighty Lever System

Nothing says "I have the power!" like a good lever. Some museums have visitors lifting actual cars with giant levers.  These exhibits demonstrate powerful mechanical principles that make visitors feel like they have superhuman strength. The key is making the payoff dramatic – don't just move a small weight, move something that makes people go "whoa."

Pro tip: A satisfying clunk when something locks into place is worth its weight in engagement metrics.

Gear Trains Tell Stories

Gears are visual poetry. They're also perfect for showing cause and effect, which is the holy grail of interactive design. Create a gear system where turning one element starts a chain reaction.

Maybe it's showing how a clock works, or how an appliance like a mixer operates. The trick is to make it detailed enough to be fascinating, simple enough to understand.

The Humble Crank

Never underestimate the power of a good crank. It's immediate, satisfying, and gives visitors a sense of control. Use it to power animations, reveal hidden information, or create sounds. The classic "crank a generator" component can power dazzling visual and physical effects, while allowing visitors to directly experience how their physical energy can transform into electrical energy. 

Making It Work in the Real World

Durability is Key

If you're creating mechanical interactions, build them like tanks. Visitors will push, pull, crank, and manipulate your exhibits in ways you never imagined. Use materials that can handle abuse and design mechanisms that fail gracefully. A broken interactive exhibit is worse than no interactive exhibit.

Clear Instructions, Obvious Affordances

Make it immediately obvious what visitors should do. If it's meant to be turned, make it look turnable. If it's meant to be pushed, make it look pushable. Don't make people guess – confusion kills engagement faster than broken technology.

Maintenance Plans Matter

Mechanical doesn't mean maintenance-free. Create exhibits that can be easily cleaned, adjusted, and repaired by your existing staff. Document everything, and make replacement parts easy to source. Future museum employees will thank you.

The Secret Sauce: Emotional Payoff

The best analog interactions create emotional responses. The surprise of a hidden compartment opening. The dramatic moment when a lever lifts something heavy. Design for those moments of delight, frustration, and ultimate satisfaction.

 

Remember, you're not just creating an activity – you're creating an experience. The best analog interactions make visitors feel smart, powerful, or surprised. Sometimes all three.

The Bottom Line

In a world of endless screens and digital overload, analog interactions offer something refreshing: direct, immediate, tactile engagement with ideas. They're reliable, memorable, and often more engaging than their digital counterparts. Plus, they won't become obsolete when the next operating system update drops.

So the next time someone suggests "just adding a touchscreen," take a deep breath and consider the alternatives. Sometimes the best way forward is backwards – or sideways, with a really good crank!

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"

Feeling Flush With Success -- Making Museum Bathrooms Into Exhibition Spaces

You know that moment when you're mid-museum visit and nature calls? You reluctantly tear yourself away from that fascinating display about medieval pottery, trudge to the restroom, and then -- POW! -- you're face-to-face with more educational content. 

Welcome to the wonderful world of bathroom exhibits, where even your most private moments become learning opportunities.

The Captive Audience Advantage

Let's be honest: museum bathrooms have something most exhibition designers can only dream of —a truly captive audience. Where else can you guarantee that visitors will spend at least 60 seconds in one spot, with literally nothing else to do but read what's on the wall? It's an educational ambush at its finest.

The genius lies in the psychology. Your guard is down, and suddenly you're absorbing information about Victorian sanitation practices or the cultural significance of chamber pots.

When Content Meets Context

The best bathroom exhibits don't just happen to be located in restrooms—they're about restrooms. Imagine encountering a mini-exhibit about Roman latrines while you're using a modern equivalent. The contextual connection creates an "aha!" moment that's both humorous and genuinely illuminating.

Historical societies display vintage bathroom advertisements, science centers showcase spaceship toilets, and art museums feature contemporary works, like gold-plated toilets (yes, that's a thing, and Duchamp would be proud).

 

The Unexpected Venue Effect

There's something beautifully subversive about turning society's most private space into a public learning environment. When you encounter a thoughtful exhibit about water conservation while washing your hands, it has a different impact than if you'd seen the same display in a traditional gallery space.

The Bottom Line

Museum bathroom exhibits work because they catch us off guard in the best possible way. They transform a necessity into an opportunity for discovery, reminding us that learning can happen anywhere—even in the most unexpected places.

The next time you find yourself in a museum restroom, don't just use it and leave. Take a moment to appreciate the curatorial audacity of whoever decided that yes, this is precisely where people need to learn about 18th-century chamberpots.

Now get back to those museum bathroom exhibits—and wash your hands!

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"

Designing Instagram Moments That Actually Mean Something

People are going to share photographs of your exhibits, whether you design with that purpose in mind or not. The question isn't whether to embrace social media like Instagram, it's how to do it without turning your museum into a themed backdrop factory.

The Balancing Act: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself

Before you add that neon sign or Instagram-ready backdrop, run through this checklist:

1. Does this photo opportunity require engagement with our content? (If visitors can get the shot while ignoring your message, reconsider.)

2. What story will visitors tell when they share this image? (If it's just "I was here," you've missed an opportunity.)

3. Would this element exist if social media didn't? (If the answer is no, think harder about integration.)

4. Does the visual reinforce or compete with our learning objectives? (Competition is a red flag.)

5. Are we creating one Instagram moment or multiple micro-moments throughout the experience? (Spread the social love around.)

When Instagram Actually Makes Exhibits Better

Here's the plot twist: designing with social sharing in mind can make your exhibits more effective, not less. Why? Because it forces you to think about:

 

Emotional impact: What makes people feel something worth sharing?   Personal connection: How does this relate to visitors' own lives?

Clarity of message: Can someone explain your main point in a social media caption?

Memorable moments: What will stick with people after they leave? These are all hallmarks of good exhibit design, Instagram or no Instagram. 

Your 'Gram Plan

1. Audit your current exhibits: Where are people already taking photos? What does that tell you about what resonates?

2. Listen to the captions: What do visitors write when they share images from your space? Are they engaging with your content, or are they just documenting their visit?

 

3. Test the integration: Can someone learn your key message just from the elements that photograph well? If not, strengthen those connections.

4. Embrace the micro-moment: Instead of one big photo op, create multiple smaller moments throughout the experience that reinforce different aspects of your message.

The Bottom Line

Instagram isn't the enemy of good exhibit design—thoughtless pandering to Instagram is. The best social media moments in museums happen when the photo opportunity and the learning objective are so well integrated that they're inseparable.

Your visitors want to share meaningful experiences, not just pretty backgrounds. Give them both, and your educational impact will multiply across social networks.

After all, the best marketing for your next exhibit is visitors who can't stop talking about what they learned at your last one!

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"