Magic Number

Longtime readers know there are only five ways (!!) to organize exhibition information.

But knowing how to organize doesn’t tell us how much to organize.

The quantity of informational chunks in an exhibition is often an inherent amount. There are 7 continents. 21 sardine species. 39 signers of, ahem, the US Constitution.

But when the quantity is less finite, where do we stop? How many events are there in military history? Genres of world music? Styles of fashion?

Introducing the magic number.

A magic number gives exhibition creators a meaningful, practical quantity cap. For example, a year in review could have 365 photos, 52 paintings, or 12 sculptures.

Anniversaries make great magic numbers. Turning 25? 25 unsung heroes of Olympic curling. 100? History of the World in 100 Objects. Country turning 250? You get the idea.

Bonus: magic numbers feel inevitable. If it’s your 100th anniversary, and the exhibition is 100 objects, well, that’s that. The stakeholder discussion becomes “which 100?” versus “why not another 17?”

Here’s the thing:
Knowing how to organize doesn’t tell us how much to organize. If your exhibition has a inherent content quantity, great.

Otherwise, try a magic number.

Warmly,
Jonathan

P.S. Article inspired by reader N.H.

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MtM Word of the Day:
Install. [IN-stall] [Noun, emphasis on first syllable.] Shortened variant, or clipping, of the word "installation." "How did the install of that new display case go this weekend?"