Hello, Desk. How’ve You Been?
Hello, Desk. How’ve You Been?
July 22, 2021 by Taylor Studios
I’d just moved to Illinois all the way from Massachusetts to start my new job at Taylor Studios. I was full of nervous excitement to take my design background in theatre and apply it in a new way—creating engaging, memorable museum exhibits. And for the first couple of months, life was great.
But then, as everyone in the world is acutely aware, the tragedy of the pandemic took control. For me, this meant adjusting to an even newer normal while still adjusting to the old new normal of settling into a different state and a fresh career.
Fast forward and we’re finally back in the office. With vaccines in our arms, the masks slowly come off to reveal missed smiles and friendly faces. As I sit reunited with my desk that I was so thrilled to meet all those many months ago, I feel the need to take a moment and reflect on what I’ve actually learned about exhibit design since my desk and I last saw each other.
1. Communication
Talk to your team; even if the
detail seems small and insignificant, communicate it. Keep an open door and frequently
communicate ideas, changes, plans, and even feelings. Having simple conversations
throughout the day can save a complex headache down the road, and the support
your team can offer you is invaluable.
Talk to your client; it is equally important
to be clear with your client. It’s their dream you’re bringing to life—you want
them to love the work. And while it can be difficult to solicit a response
sometimes, guiding them to provide honest and specific feedback (good and bad)
is critical.
2. Always Learn
Sometimes things are going to go right and sometimes… things aren’t so right. This is an industry where you must expect the unexpected. There are so many variables being juggled at once that it can seem nearly impossible to predict every single outcome. And that’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when one of those outcomes you didn’t foresee happens. So, what can you do about it?
Fix it. Learn from it. Pack it up and stuff it in your satchel of experience so that you’ll know what to look for next time. I learn something every day with this job, and I know that’s helping me to be a more self-sufficient designer and more creative problem-solver.
3. T̶w̶o̶ ̶H̶e̶a̶d̶s̶,̶ ̶T̶h̶r̶e̶e̶ ̶H̶e̶a̶d̶s̶,̶ ̶F̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶H̶e̶a̶d̶s̶,̶ More Heads Are Better Than One
One of my favorite things I’ve discovered is that anyone and everyone can have awesome ideas. When you’re in a room with a group of people who are excited to share and create something truly wonderful (even if they’re not a designer by definition), sparks start to fly, and exhibit magic happens. You feed off each other’s energy and the big picture comes into
focus, full of enticing details that were brought about by the love of many minds.
4. Always Ask, “Why?”
We create a central theme for a reason; it
defines the entire exhibit. And when we get caught up in all of the pizzazz and glitz of what the exhibit could look like, I’ve found it crucial to pause and think about why that design choice is being made.
“Does it relate at all to the central theme?” “No?” “Then I guess the fact that it simply looks cool isn’t a good enough reason.”
Ultimately, the design choice we make instead will always be a thousand times more impactful than what we first wanted to add in just for show.
5. Take a Moment
With the whirlwind of projects, ideas, and deadlines it can be easy to forget what this job is actually about. We get to tell stories for a living. We open pathways of knowledge and inspiration to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. We give people a space to feel
and converse and change the world.
I mean, how awesome is that?!
It can be a hard job—there’s a lot at stake, there’s countless components, there’s risk. But, at the end of the day, I consider myself so fortunate to be back at my desk, doing my part to share these stories and bring a little more joy into the world.