When embarking on the journey of exhibit design and fabrication, moving from a conceptual idea to a finished product isn’t exactly going from point A to point B. In fact, it’s more like going from point A to point D, with points B and C breaking up the middle.

However, that doesn’t mean exhibit design and fabrication is at all convoluted. If all parties have a good understanding of the steps and stops along the way, moving from point A - Schematic Design into point B - Design Development can happen without a hitch, paving the way to point C - Final Design, and finally point D - Production. That’s not to say there won’t be tough choices to make and lots of work for all parties involved, but if everyone’s on the same page there also won’t be mid-project surprises.

I hope that providing some information about each of our four phases over the next few weeks will help take the mystery out of our process. After all the talk of sandwiches and cookies, not to mention my cliché “journey” analogy (cut me some slack - I’m a project manager!) I’ll give it to you straight.

Schematic Design:

All interpretive exhibits are built on the backbone of the Schematic Design phase. This is the time when projects are researched and the overarching interpretive themes are determined. The exhibit flow, or way we expect visitors to move through the space, is also an important outcome of this phase. How does Taylor Studios come up with the appropriate messages and flow? With our client’s help, of course!

Following an internal orientation to the project, one of the first steps of the Schematic Design phase is to meet with our client. The interpretive planner and another member of the design team will lead a kick-off meeting at the project site. At the meeting, the client’s interpretive goals will be discussed and prioritized, as well as any specific ideas they would like to see incorporated into the project. The design team may also present visual examples to get a feel for the look the client is after.  Assuming it’s been constructed, this is also the opportune time for the design team to tour the space.

Following the meeting, the design team gets to work brainstorming. The interpretive planner drafts an outline of exhibit content to include a central theme and sub-themes. The central theme is the main idea visitors will take away with them upon leaving the exhibit. Sub-themes further break down the interpretive content.

Once the content outline is completed, the interpretive planner and exhibit designer determine what would be the best conceptual exhibit flow and come up with a “bubble plan.”  The bubble plan is a floor plan that shows how we expect visitors to move through a space, indicates the content to be interpreted in each area, and outlines what percentage of the total project budget we recommend be used in each area.

The content outline and bubble plan are sent to the client. When the client gives the design team a thumbs up, the Schematic Design deliverables serve as the interpretive foundation upon which the rest of the project design will rest.

Stay tuned for more details regarding Design Development, Final Design, and Production…

Posted by: Renee

“The Universe is wider than our views of it.”

-Henry David Thoreau

Twenty years ago in the inspirational film, Dead Poets Society, Professor Keating (Robin Williams) encouraged his English Class to experience the world from another perspective.  To illustrate this, Keating had each of the boys in the class take turns standing on top of his desk at the front of the room.

Our mission here at Taylor Studios: “to create products and experiences that inspire people.” How does someone design for an inspirational and engaging exhibit experience?  Often it is as simple as changing your perspective.  Looking at ideas, floor plans, drawings, or even facts from a different angle helps drive creativity to a point where it can be inspirational.  So how might this work?  A change in perspective can…

Keep Possibilities Endless:

One of the most exciting parts of working through the design process is the collaboration between all parties involved.  How amazing to think that no matter how I see something there is always another way.  When a project presents an unforeseen challenge, and they all do, drawing on the perspectives of others ensures a successful solution.  Resisting others’ views on a particular issue only limits your resources.

Broaden Your Impact:

We all have different backgrounds that influence how we see and experience this world.  So, it only makes sense that a successful exhibit would be created around the perspectives of many.  Have you ever looked at something that you thought you knew well from a slightly different point of view only to discover it in an entirely new light?  It’s this “new light” that will help add engagement to your design and in return make a larger impact.

Promote Exploration:

Changing perspective can lead a design down a road that you never initially thought was a possibility.  Approaching a design from the most obvious angle runs the risk of being ordinary.  However, if we are to create an environment that is inspirational and engaging, we must take full advantage of shifting perspectives as a means toward exploration.  Do something you “know” won’t work or that you “know” is “wrong” and see what happens.  Often it is seeing a shape that doesn’t fit to see one that will!

While you won’t find us here at Taylor Studios standing on our desks in the literal sense, I can say that whenever we approach a new design, we make sure to push back the markers and make a space to “stand.”  However, if actually standing on our desks is what it takes, you can bet that we’ll do it!

Posted by: Cory

Last week I came across a blog post that referenced one of our past posts, “Let’s Make a Sandwich.”  From what I gathered from the blog, www.tdtidbits.blogspot.com, the author is a project manager for one of our friends in Chicago, Chicago Scenic Studios.  In the post, “Building a Sandwich,” the importance of a detailed Scope of Work written in an RFP was outlined.  I couldn’t agree more with the point, “you will never get what you want unless you ask for it.”

As the main proposal writer for Taylor Studios, it’s often tricky to know exactly what a client wants and how our proposal will be evaluated.  Often times the proposal requirements do not follow or match the proposal evaluation criteria.  I spend a great deal of time ensuring all the proposal requirements are in line with the criteria on which we will be judged.  Since my work is going to be graded on not only our skills, abilities, and past work, but also, completeness, readability, organization, etc. it would be nice if all RFP writers would put together their packets with the same criteria in mind.

As for the actual Scope of Work section, our estimating department is ecstatic when an RFP comes through that outlines exactly what the client wants.  When we receive bid packets with instructions to just bid what we want or offer a price without really knowing what the client has in mind is not fair to the companies that bid on the work.  Proposals can take days to complete.  When we are spending this amount of hours trying to win a job just to find out we didn’t bid what the client wanted or our price was three times as much as the lowest bidder is really disappointing.  Going back to the tdtidbits blog, do you really think a company that bids $.50 per cookie vs. a company that bids $6 per cookie really offers the same product, service, and quality?

Now getting back to why I started this post - no it really wasn’t all about the details in RFPs.  After reading “Building a Sandwich” I reread our original sandwich post and thought that some clarification might be needed.  Our typical design-build process consists of four phases: Schematic Design, Design Development, Final Design, and Production.  Over the next few weeks, we will review what we do during each phase.  Since not everyone uses exactly the same terminology, this process can be confusing.  Hopefully this series will help answer questions, but if it doesn’t, please ask!

Posted by: Kara