“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”  (Albert Einstein) This rule comes up regularly in exhibition planning discussions. For good reason. It’s applicable to every project we do. But wait, there’s more. ...

A colleague tells me that a metaphor of mine resonates with people she shares it with. It’s a slightly broader topic than the normal MtM beat. Here it is: There are pirates attacking the ship. Also, the ship is on fire. (Stay with me here.) ...

One day soon, that sparkly new tech will misbehave. And non-technical owner organizations likely won’t be able to keep up. How can we make our tech-heavy exhibitions less prone to failure? Here’s an easy idea, one I like partly for its blasphemy. ...

Quick, what’s your new exhibition based on? A. Thing-based. B. Idea-based. C. Wait, is this a trick question? If your exhibition is thing-based, you have amazing things for visitors, and you could match ideas with them. But let's look at B. (And C.) ...

What’s up with exhibition intro text? You know, that big wall at the entry, with hundreds of words, a title, and sponsor names? Yeah, let’s rethink that a sec. First, I’m sure we can all agree that we don’t need that many words. (Right?) ...

Fuzzy little words get projects in trouble. Saying “you are responsible for the script” is like saying “you are responsible for the building”. Yeah? Which part? Designing it? Building it? Maintaining it? Down with fuzzy little words. ...

A new kind of discussion has been coming up. Are you hearing it? It’s about the conflict between climate control inside museums — versus the climate crisis outside. Why is there a conflict? That will take a moment to explain. ...

Is there any organization for the exhibition field any more? A new initiative is picking up steam. Cybelle Jones, Steven Rosen, and George Mayer join host Jonathan Alger to discuss “A New Home for the Exhibition Community.” ...

What is the Paradox of Exhibitions? Exhibitions display collection items that we otherwise preserve and keep away from the public. We take them out of their drawers, their vaults. We bring them into the light. And while we do this, what happens? ...

Chronology is a common exhibition structure. But there are more twists on it than you think. Here are five ways to organize chronologically, starting with linear: events exhibited in the order they occurred. Maybe a flashback or two for clarity. Next ...

Quick, what’s your new exhibition based on? A. Thing-based. B. Idea-based. C. Wait, is this a trick question? Maybe you have amazing things to exhibit. You could match ideas with them. But it’s not a must. Or, maybe ...

Smart car shoppers consider both the cost of buying it and the cost of owning it. Why isn’t that a more standard step for our exhibitions? The average monthly payment on a new car is about $735 right now. Youch. But what's it cost to operate that car? ...

What’s a raisin muffin mostly made of? Raisins? (Stay with me.) Despite the name, a raisin muffin is mostly not raisins. It’s mostly muffin. Star billing goes to the less common ingredient. So, in exhibitions, the Raisin Muffin Principle states that: ...

Quick, what are the elements that make an exhibition what it is? Artifacts? Not always. Science center and children’s exhibitions often have no collection items. Platforms and vitrines? Not if there are no artifacts. Frames? Same. Walls? Nope. ...

“The client’s role is not to solve the problem — it’s to state the problem.” Amy Weisser (Deputy Director for Strategic Planning and Projects at Storm King Art Center) joins host Jonathan Alger to discuss “The Client Side of Major Projects.” ...

What do exhibitions cost today, compared to before the pandemic? Compared to right before the pandemic, exhibition fabrication bids are still slightly higher today than they would be from inflation alone. But how much higher, and will that last? ...

Exhibitions, like documentary films, are primarily visual. You can watch a good movie with the sound off. Some films have no words at all. But you can’t have one with only words. Exhibitions are the same. Let’s test that real quick. ...

A student once asked me, “What percentage of technology should an exhibit be?” I replied, “37%”. When the student wrote this down, I rushed to say I wasn’t serious. I gave the real answer: it depends. It’s not 37%. But I will tell you another number that isn’t it: 100%. ...

Religion. Politics. Gender. Discuss. Controversial topics are part of the museum mission. And they attract public interest. But divisive themes can also cause bad PR, and jeopardize the mission. How can an exhibition court controversy with less risk? …

L is for Location. Organizing content by location is a common approach in exhibitions. An ancient art show organized by region, a hall of fame organized by state, a World’s Fair organized by country. But that’s just the start. Here are seven more. …