Scenography

(Disclaimer: readers of Making the Museum located in Europe may find this article either boring, or proof that Americans are hopelessly backward, or both. Neither of which I will dispute.)

At the moment, we Americans are debating … ahem … many things. And clearly, the most important national debate of them all is still whether we should all say exhibition design or experience design.

*Rolls eyes*

But meanwhile, a completely different word has taken over Europe: scenography.

Originally, that term referred to the set, lighting and costumes of a stage production. Then, influential European exhibition designers, originally trained in set design, started referring to their craft as scenography also.

This caught on. Now in the EU and UK, everyone uses the term. Maybe it became popular because it translates easily into other EU languages.

In French: scénographie.

In German: Szenografie.

Compare that to trying to translate exhibition design into German. You’ll get Ausstellungsgestaltung. Yeah, don’t try to pronounce that.

Here’s the thing:
What’s a word for creating an experience that’s theatrical, using all the elements of the environment around you?

If I have to choose between “exhibition design” and “experience design” — maybe I’ll pick scenography too.

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:
Scenography. The design of the on-stage environment of a theatrical production, which may include the set, lighting and costumes. In some European countries, the term is also a synonym for exhibition design.