INTERPRETIVE PLANNER

It wasn’t until I had the opportunity to work with certified interpretive planners that I finally understood the true foundation of exhibit design; The Why. After working for a couple of years with two brilliant planners I set out on a path to become one myself, believing that it was integral to the process. In fact, years later, I’m surprised there aren’t more designers with the dual skill. Developing numerous IPs has reinforced this belief, leading to my being a vocal proponent for it as a standard practice within my team.

EXHIBIT DESIGNER

Holistic; while I generally dislike words that become overused or misunderstood, cliché to some degree, it is actually accurate to my experiences within the realm of exhibit design. I’ve had over a decade developing experiential environments meant to create change. I have designed and physically produced a couple thousand graphic panels as well. I’ve trained for and developed numerous interpretive plans. I’ve even worked on many installation crews fabricating and installing scenic elements and graphic elements. All of my experiences have educated me and created a sense of respect for each phase of the design process.

VISITOR

The key to good design really resides in understanding how what you create gets used. I am an avid user of interpretive exhibits and experiences. I drag my kids to Washington, DC the first week of summer to peruse the offerings of the Smithsonian and the National Mall. I keep a passport of National Park Sites that we are checking off as we visit them. I take personal time from work to explore exhibits of all types. I am as much a visitor as I am a designer. Exploring this way is woven into who I am as a creative, even matching the need to create itself. Only by participating can we grasp the full power of what we do.