Plan for the Future: 4 Questions to Ask When Adding to Your Exhibits
Plan for the Future: 4 Questions to Ask When Adding to Your Exhibits
March 5, 2020 by Taylor Studios
We want you to have exhibits that inspire; are unique to you; maximize the best materials, methods and technology; and achieve your vision. The problem is sometimes it is hard to convince clients that what’s best for their future operations doesn’t always match the vision they have during the design phase. This is frustrating because during the creative phase it is hard to tell a client what they want isn’t affordable or isn’t the best for their future.
I read this question in an RFP (Request for Proposal), “How do you account for operating cost when you design exhibits?” That’s a great question! Often we get asked to design in elements we know may not be used in the future or will be difficult to maintain or replace.
Here are some questions you might consider when adding new exhibit elements.
1. Will you change these exhibits in the future?
Changeable exhibits is a common request. This can add more cost to design and fabrication. It’s a great thing to do in theory. However, many clients we’ve visited years later have not changed their exhibits. Scheduling in the labor needed to change out exhibit panels or components seems to be challenging.
2. Do you have in-house expertise to keep electronic or A/V components running?
Is your staff IT savvy or available enough to reboot computers and do the necessary maintenance to keep electronics running?
3. Do you have the future operating budget to replace computers, screens, light bulbs, interactives, graphics or outdoor signage?
Some electronics become outdated in less than five years. Outdoor signs will fade. Life span on all of these things will depend on usage, maintenance and your environment. Replacements will be needed over time.
4. Do you have an exhibit maintenance plan?
Will someone clean the exhibits consistently? If you need specialty supplies is that in the budget? Do you have the in-house expertise to do this kind of maintenance?
Broken exhibits can be minimized. Be sure to have discussions early in the creative process. There are many solutions to avoid future problems and still achieve your vision. We love hearing from clients a decade plus after install and see our early planning stood the test of time. andare good examples of this.
to find out how we can partner with you to design for durability and create exhibits that will last.
“Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it’s really how it works.” ~ Steve Jobs