The Design Minds

Happy Halloween from TDM! We hope everyone had a spook-tacular time trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins!

1. Interpretive Planner and Senior Associate Jeremey King with his wife and kids
2. Associate Graphic and Exhibit Designer Mike Spec's pumpkin carving
3. Content Developer Alexis Frambes's pumpkin carving
4. Principal and Design Director Lonny Schwartz's spooky haunted maze 👻

Last month, Nez Perce National Historical Park celebrated the grand re-opening of the newly remodeled Spalding Visitor Center. Design Minds is proud to have been part of the redesign, which brings Nimi’ipuu (Nez Perce) voices to the forefront of the exhibits. Their story is not linear. It moves in seasonal cycles throughout the generations. The new exhibits follow these seasonal rounds. Throughout the space, the Nez Perce interpret their culture in their own words and in their native language. As visitors hear voices from the past and present, they learn that the Nez Perce have been and continue to be a part of this land.

Special thanks to our partners at CREO Exhibits for fabricating the exhibits and bringing the design to life.

We look forward to connecting with friends, colleagues, and fellow museum professionals at the American Alliance of Museums 2024 MuseumExpo. Stop by Booth 5425 to meet our team of designers, interpretive planners, and thinkers. You can get more information on TDM services, new projects, and more!

This week our team is celebrating the opening of a new exhibit, 'Power & Light: Russell Lee's Coal Survey.' Russell Lee's captivating photographs documented the poor living and working conditions mining communities faced but also shared their joy and resiliency. The Design Minds oversaw exhibit planning and design and produced original illustrations to help interpret the story. The exhibit opens on March 16th at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC.

TDM is honored to receive two first place Interpretive Media Awards from the National Association for Interpretation! 🏆

The Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on the B&O Railroad [Interior Exhibits Category]—We collaborated closely with the B&O Railroad Museum’s team to craft exhibits inside historic Mount Clare Station. The project shared the marginalized history of African Americans who self-liberated using the actual railroad. Stakeholders, community members, and scholars uncovered the stories of over 25 Freedom Seekers and shed light on their remarkable journeys.

Meanings of the Memorial [Accessibility Category]—We worked with the National Park Service and accessibility advocates to design new indoor and outdoor exhibits at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, DC. The exhibits explore FDR’s physical disability, exploring themes of hardship, determination, and perseverance through new interpretive graphics, Braille translations, audio description, and bronze tactiles.

Exhibit entries were evaluated based on the application of interpretive principles, communication of its intended message, and effective use of art and technology. Thank you to our partners for another great collaboration!

The National Association for Interpretation held a "Wayside Olympics" session at its annual conference last week. Attendees rated 12 entrees based on factors including interpretive technique, design aesthetics, and accessibility. We are proud to share that voters awarded the gold to "A Carefully Crafted Image" we designed for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial. Glenn Klaus from the NPS team attended the event and accepted the award. If you are in Washington, DC, visit the FDR Memorial!

Happy Halloween from The Design Minds team! 🎃