Museum Exhibit

Blog (Exhibit Insight), Museum Exhibit, Trade Show

Does Your Museum Exhibit or Trade Show Booth Tell a Story?

Whether it’s for a trade show or museum exhibit, your displays need to be part of the story, just as much as the content. And, getting more people interested in learning more all depends upon how you want to tell your story.

Telling a good story lets you stand out—to be more memorable. And that’s exactly what you want, so your audience will take their experience with your brand and organization back home, and hopefully tell your story to more people. This begins with the content that you want to present.

trade show booth story telling

How Do You Tell a Good Story?

A good story provides important details to immerse the visitor and make the experience feel genuine. Your story is based on a theme that focuses on your brand and the customer journey. Here are some common themes:
– Overcoming an Obstacle
– Fun / Entertaining
– Strength and Empowerment
– Safety / Security
– Nostalgia
Once you’ve decided on a theme, then it’s time to incorporate all of the elements of the story within the design of your exhibit.

Customized Trade Show Booth

Not only does the story content need to be embedded into your booth design, but you’ll also need to incorporate most of the senses to attract a larger audience. If you choose a tabletop or inline display, you’ll need to add some extras, such as audio-visuals, and even scent, to fit in these important details. The goal is to be memorable to your audience.

Customization is the way to go to stand out in a crowded exhibit hall. A customized booth engages all of your visitors’ senses. Colorful and unique visual designs will capture their attention and draw them in. Interactivity allows them to touch and feel products or get a better idea of your services. Also, having a good sound system delivers a more professional presentation, as well as provides ambient music to make visitors feel comfortable and relaxed.

Immersive Museum Exhibits

Museums have the advantage of telling a story in a linear fashion. Your story can be displayed in chronological order, so visitors can see the important details as they unfold through time.

This can be done through signs, placards or banners hung on a wall, but these lack the emotional impact you want. You’ll have more impact when you reconstruct the main characters of your story to bring them to life using unique materials such as fabric, metal, and glass – whatever the story demands!

A customized exhibit will be more colorful and unique, bringing the story that you want to convey to life. These can be durable enough to handle the daily stress of visitor interactions. A customized exhibit is more immersive and memorable. Plus, it can be built to fit a particular space, giving smaller museums the advantage of utilizing more available space.

At ADM Two, we are experts on display design and fabrication. Whether it’s prefabricated, modular or custom, we can design and build any display to fit your needs. So, if your company or museum requires a customized exhibit, please give us a call at (813) 887-1960. No matter where you’re located, one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with all of your exhibiting needs.

Blog (Exhibit Insight), Museum Exhibit

Explore Museums and Nature Preserves around Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay area is home to some of the most beautiful coastline in America. But, did you know that we also boast some of the most unique museums and nature centers, too? Over the years, ADM Two has been fortunate enough to work with many of these organizations that are vital to our community. What’s more, September 21, 2019 marks the annual, nationwide Smithsonian’s Museum Day Live event where museums across the U.S. offer free admission. See below for a list of local museum participating in museum day.

 

Engaging and Fun

Our local museums and nature preserves are great places to visit. They have something for everyone to enjoy. Some can teach you about the area’s history, while others will give you an idea of what the natural settings were like centuries ago. Most offer interactive displays, so children can have those hands-on experiences that make it fun.

If you’re looking for something to do this summer to escape the heat, these museums and nature preserves are the perfect place to explore.

 

St. Petersburg Museums

St. Petersburg Museum of History: For nearly a century, the St. Petersburg Museum of History has shared stories of the Sunshine City, presenting exhibits depicting the birth of the City with the arrival of the Orange Belt Railroad to the arrival of Major League Baseball and the Tampa Bay Rays. 335 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

The Dali Museum: Experience the awe-inspiring works of Salvador Dali, as well as national traveling exhibits of world-famous artists. One Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33701

st petersburg museum day

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve: Located near Lake Maggiore, Boyd Hill is a unique natural attraction that offers amenities and activities for everyone. 1101 Country Club Way S., St. Petersburg, FL 33705

Museum of Fine Arts: A city landmark and opened to the public in 1965, the first art museum in St. Petersburg is located on the downtown waterfront. The museum boasts a large permanent collection and hosts traveling exhibits from around the world. 255 Beach Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Great Explorations Children’s Museum: Great Explorations provides a fun, hands-on practical learning environment. The museum stimulates young minds through carefully curated learning experiences. 1925 4th Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33704

 

Tampa Museums

MOSI – Tampa: At the Museum of Science & Industry, people of all ages can see and interact with a wide-range of exhibits and activities, such as The Saunders Planetarium or visit a lunar colony in our Mission: Moonbase, and defy gravity on the Sky Trail® Ropes Course. 4801 E. Fowler Ave. Tampa, Florida 33617

Tampa Museum of Art: The Museum balances a growing collection, including one of the largest Greek and Roman antiquities collections in the southeastern United States, with a dynamic annual schedule of special exhibitions. Cornelia Corbett Center, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602

tampa museum day

Glazer Children’s Museum: Tampa’s interactive, learning laboratory where children play, discover, and connect to the world around them to develop as lifelong learners and leaders. 110 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602

Tampa Bay History Center: The History Center is located on Tampa’s Riverwalk. It holds three floors of permanent and temporary collections that focus on Florida’s history. 801 Old Water Street, Tampa, FL 33602

 

Sarasota / Bradenton Museums

The Ringling: The Ringling is the State Art Museum of Florida and is administered by Florida State University. It features a historic mansion, art museum, circus museum, historic theater, conservation center, arboretum, and reference library, situated on 66 acres of spectacular bayfront property in Sarasota. We’ve worked with The Ringling Museum on a few projects and it’s always a genuine pleasure to learn so much about their latest exhibits. 5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature: The largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature offers engaging exhibits as well as educational programs which interpret the scientific and cultural knowledge of Florida, the world, and our universe. 201 10th St. W., Bradenton, Fl 34205

 

Tarpon Springs/Dunedin Museums

Booker Creek Preserve and Education Center: The Preserve provides both a unique refuge for native flora and fauna, as well as an opportunity for everyone to explore the natural beauty of wild Florida. The education center features exhibits that help visitors understand how natural Florida has changed over time and the ecological footprints left by those changes. 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL  34688

Dunedin History Museum: The Dunedin History Museum contains thousands of artifacts and photographs, plus a library containing hundreds of volumes of local and Florida history. The library even contains an electronic archive of the Dunedin Times Newspaper dating from 1924 to 1965. Visit to learn more about Dunedin’s multicultural origins, industries, pioneering families and much more in this dynamic local museum. Bonus, we just helped the museum with a new renovation, so the exhibit is all brand new! 349 Main St, Dunedin, FL 34698.

These are only a handful of amazing places you and your family can visit this fall. Many of them offer special reciprocal memberships, so you can become a member of one and visit them all throughout the year. Museum Day participants in Hillsborough and Pinellas are:

  • Cracker Country
  • Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
  • Henry B. Plant Museum
  • Tampa Bay History Center
  • Tampa Museum of Art
  • The Florida Holocaust Museum
  • Museum of Fine Arts
  • Florida CraftArt
  • Imagine Museum

At ADM Two, we believe in supporting our local museums because they are an integral part of our community. We are experts on display design and fabrication. So, if your museum is in need of exhibit updates or new installations, please give us a call at (813) 887-1960. No matter where your museum is located, one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with all of your exhibiting needs.

Blog (Exhibit Insight), Displays, Interactive Displays, Museum Exhibit

Museum Exhibit Updates Reflect the Audience

It’s easy enough to spot the daily wear and tear on interactive museum exhibits. Display units will also show some wear over time or simply go out of fashion, which means that they’ll need to be updated as well. However, it’s harder to know when exhibits are no longer engaging with patrons. Over time, identifying and providing engagement becomes an even bigger enigma for museums because exhibit updates need to appeal to an increasingly informed and demanding contemporary audience, while also recouping the expense of those often expensive updates.

The important thing to keep in mind is that the exhibits themselves can help museum directors expand their reach into the communities they serve. Diversifying the mix of people visiting the museum increases the percentage of the community members supporting the mission. And, when each visitor can say they had a good experience, the museum will establish an even stronger relationship with the greater community.

museum exhibit updates 7

The Star Wars exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg appealed to a wide variety of people of all ages. Plus it was such a pleasure to help design and build.

Strategies to Capture More Visitors

There are four different exhibit orientations that provide opportunities for capturing a visitors attention:

  • Exhibit as artifact on display
  • An exhibit that communicates ideas
  • Interactive exhibits
  • An immersive environment

Any updates to an exhibit should follow these closely and fulfill the participant’s expectations. If an exhibit is not well matched with the audience, then they may not be enthusiastic for another visit. So, it’s in the museum’s best interest to provide the widest range of exhibit orientations without straying from their mission. Performing some research into the audience and opting to create ever-green, lasting exhibits can help create a strong foundation.

Audience, First

When reaching out to new audiences, it will be easier to place them into segments, rather than large ethnic or socio-economic groups. Understanding the target segment provides a greater opportunity for connection. Focusing on only one exhibit orientation may have a negative effect with these new segments. Do some research into your community and use your local Chamber of Commerce as a resource to access data about the community. Consider focus groups as a way to assess your community’s mindset and specific needs. We’ve actually participated in a focus group for a local St. Petersburg museum. It was quite interesting and we noticed that the programming and special exhibits have become more and more spectacular since they started the focus groups. It’s definitely worth the investment, as long as you use the resulting data to take action.

museum exhibit updates 3

This exhibit appeals to a particular audience segment – children. Being that it is the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center, it is only appropriate that the content and style are geared towards kids.

Quality Does Matter

Quality design of exhibits and space will capture more interactions with visitors. According to the Smithsonian, the quality of a museum is largely based on the exhibit’s:

  • Use of authoritative presentations
  • Easy-to-use technology
  • Easy-to-do interactions
  • Graphic design
  • Educational focus

There is also a greater expectation that museums provide a more quality experience over other community attractions, even though they are not necessarily in the same category.

Exhibit to Promote Learning

Engaging museum exhibits can facilitate personal and group learning. A good exhibit links to past experiences and everyday events. Any updates to interactivity can promote more identification with the exhibits, as well as the proper interpretation of the exhibit. This will integrate a broader range of audiences and create deeper, developmental experiences.

ADM Two custom designs museum exhibits. We are experts on design, fabrication, and exhibit technology, so give us a call at (813) 887-1960 and one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with your museum exhibit design and planning. Also, check out some of our other articles to get more information on museum displays.

Blog (Exhibit Insight), Museum Exhibit

Furniture to Fit the Museum Exhibit

Furniture in a museum exhibit is often hidden in plain sight. The ubiquitous museum bench usually sits near the front entrance or along a corridor. It’s backless and thoughtfully misplaced—off to one side, or in the middle of an exhibit hall—to preserve the environment and not inhibit the flow of traffic.

museum furniture

Adaptable Utility

Museum furniture often goes unnoticed. For most patrons, they walk around it almost unthinkingly, as if it were in the background. Yet, its presence can also be very rewarding. There is something very powerful about its comfort for anyone weary after long periods of standing. What’s most interesting is that furniture offers a rare opportunity for patrons to encounter an exhibit or museum both visually and physically.

The options for seating in a museum should reflect the design of the building and adapt with special exhibits, because gallery space is not neutral ground. The space has been designed to align thematically without interrupting the patron’s experience. Furniture can also help people get oriented quickly when entering unfamiliar places.

Make It Accessible

One thing to remember about custom furniture is that it needs to be accessible. There are appropriate height and width requirements that accommodate people with mobility impairments. Color is also important, because it needs to be visually separated from the floor and wall to help people with visual impairments navigate the area.

These requirements don’t hinder the many possibilities of quality and design. There is an abundance of different materials to choose from, such as simple pine or sculpted aluminum. And, there are different styles, especially through custom designs.

museum furniture 2

Modular furniture has the advantage of functionality and adaptability. It can grow to offer more seating options or shrink to provide room for large floor exhibits. This type of furniture may free up warehouse space and save on costs. Something to remember about any museum furniture is to keep it simple – you don’t want it to end up competing with the art or seem as if it’s a piece of art – unless it actually is!

ADM Two can custom design museum exhibits and furniture. We are experts on design and fabrication, so give us a call at (813) 887-1960 and one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with your display, no matter where your event takes place. Also, check out some of our other articles to get more information on museum displays.

Blog (Exhibit Insight), Interactive Displays, Museum Exhibit

Current Trends in Museum Exhibits

Technology has changed the way we interact with the world. Because of it, both young and old are drawn to more interactive events that are fun and challenging. These changes have affected how museums engage with their visitors and make lasting impressions for years to come. Below are a few of the current trends in museum exhibits that reflect these changes.

Fewer Gadgets, More Experiences

Technology continues to change how members and visitor engage with gallery experiences. But, having technology in the museum is not a new trend, however, the breadth of use of technology has changed to include social media, mobile applications, and augmented reality. Plus, one of the latest trends facilitated by technology is gift giving. All of these are driven by mobile phones, so visitors can continue their museum experiences beyond the front doors and bring it home with them.

Keep It Local

Our digital world has given us a global perspective, which is why museums need to develop a sense of place for visitors to personally connect with the exhibits. Their relevance and value come from the history and culture found at their location. Focusing on place is also a way for museums to distinguish themselves among others, because they are rooted in the unique nature of their community.

Engaging the Senses

In our ever-increasing virtual world, museums need to embrace the use of real-world materials and everyday objects within their exhibits. Holding and manipulating everyday objects is an important way to engage our senses and deepen our learning. Everyday objects carry stories of invention and adaptation, hold information about how the world works, and present possibilities for a deeper understanding of the concepts presented.

interactive museum display

This engaging display can be found at Suncoast Youth Conservation Center museum exhibits.

Another way to engage the senses is through maker spaces and the crafting movement in museum exhibits. This is a level of interactivity, where members and visitors become self-directed learners. It’s also a great way to have social engagement between staff and patrons. Plus, there are a wide range of materials and tools to fit budgets, while promoting exploration through design and building.

And More Engagement

The latest trends for museums to embrace may involve revitalization of current exhibits to fit the needs of their visitors. Changes in display design and fabrication can go a long way in captivating the audience—making positive experiences.

If you’re looking to exhibit your business at one of these or other trade shows, the ADM Two staff are experts on display design and fabrication, so give us a call at (813) 887-1960 and one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with your tradeshow needs, no matter where your event takes place. Also, check out some of our other articles to get more information on trade show booth layout, trade show graphics, and etiquette.

 

Blog (Exhibit Insight), Museum Exhibit, Press Releases

ADM Two to Fabricate Main Gallery Exhibits for Dunedin History Museum

Dunedin, Fla. (July 8, 2017) – ADM Two Exhibits & Displays will work alongside Pattie Smith at Frina Design to fabricate the exhibits for the interior of the main galleries for the Dunedin History Museum.

history museum renovation

The new exhibit will feature various topics including the history of Dunedin and its initial settlement and heritage, history of Caladesi and Honeymoon Islands, Clark Mills Sailing Prams, Citrus Groves and railroad.

“This is the first time in over twenty years that the Museum has made major changes to these galleries in order to best present the history of Dunedin. It’s an important step,” says Dunedin History Museum director, Vincent Luisi.

dunedin history museum renovation

About ADM Two

ADM Two was founded in 1987, and since then has emerged as a respected leader in exhibit design and fabrication. Serving an expansive range of clients throughout the museum, trade show, corporate, and retail industries, ADM Two continues to foster the deep appreciation for innovation and craftsmanship that the organization was founded on. For more information, visit www.admtwo.com.

About Dunedin History Museum

The mission of the Dunedin History Museum is to enrich community pride by sharing Dunedin’s legacy and heritage, to collect and preserve the historical artifacts and documents of Dunedin, and to foster quality intergenerational learning and historical exhibits. The Dunedin History Museum maintains its collections and exhibits conforming to the American Alliance of Museum standards. To learn more, visit www.dunedinmuseum.org.

ADM Two Case Study, Blog (Exhibit Insight), Museum Exhibit

A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center

The A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center project was absolutely fascinating, full of local Florida history. We worked closely with MAM Exhibit Design on this project, in which we divided and conquered. We did the heavy lifting of fabrication and installation of exhibits and graphics, and Marry Anna Murphy (MAM) did the design.

The project was to design a museum and cultural center in an vintage bungalow. The museum celebrates the life of A. Quinn Jones (1893 – 1997), an early black educator in Alachua County. Each of the five galleries is specific to a subject dealing with Mr. Jones: Education, Arts and Culture, Church Life, Civil Rights and A. Quinn Jones. The 1,000 square foot museum was researched and completed in just 6 months.

civil rights gallery

The above Civil Rights gallery tells the story of how Alachua County reacted to and eventually embraced the Civil Rights Movement. Newspaper headlines were reproduced for visual impact and quotes were pulled to create points of interest and draw the viewer in. We painted several of the display walls in different colors to complement the graphics, which added pops of color and helped the graphics to really stand out.

arts and culture gallery

The Arts and Culture gallery displays a work from local artist, Jesse Aaron. The work was chosen for the lightly staffed museum because, up high, it’s safe from hands. Because it’s normal for a deer mount to be placed above eye line on a wall, this worked perfectly and lends a rustic and impressive visual effect to the collection.

quinn jones gallery

The A. Quinn Jones gallery displays items from his long life – several plaques were in the museum’s collection. They were displayed, not for each individual accomplishment, but to showcase his lifetime of accolades.

quinn Jones desk

Jones’ desk was set up with a display of items that he might have kept close at hand. Super graphic custom printed wallpaper was installed on one wall. The back wall, covering a set of windows, provides additional display space and a means to fix the vitrine in place.

This was the perfect project to complete last month, just in time for Black History Month. We had the pleasure of learning a lot about a local black historic figure, and we also had the honor of working with MAM Exhibits once again. This was a project to be proud of!

ADM Two staff are experts on museum fabrication and design, so give us a call at (813) 887-1960 and one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with your display, no matter what the circumstances. Also, check out some of our other articles to get more information on trade show booth layout, trade show graphics, and etiquette.

ADM Two Case Study, Blog (Exhibit Insight), Museum Exhibit

#ICYMI – Mound House Case Study

As the year draws to a close, we enjoy looking back on the variety of projects we’ve completed this year. We write case studies about each project we complete, so it’s nice to relive the work and the stories behind them. In January, we completed the Mound House project – what made this project interesting was the difficult task of creating level museum cases in an old, very UN-level building. Not to mention that the Mound House is an incredibly fascinating museum dedicated to archaeological discoveries from the Calusa Indian Shell Mound. Check out the case study for more history and photos of some of the artifacts that have been uncovered there and are now on display at the Mound House.

The custom museum cases we built fit in seamlessly with the exhibit.

The custom museum cases we built fit in seamlessly with the exhibit.

ADM Two doesn’t just envision potential, we solve problems on a daily basis. Creating an exciting and engaging museum exhibit starts with choosing a great team to help with design and museum cases. ADM Two are experts in custom museum exhibit fabrication and custom museum cases and our staff is prepared to handle even the most challenging projects. Give us a call at (813) 887-1960, and one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with design ideas. Also, check out some of our other articles to get ideas for trade show booth design.

ADM Two Case Study, Blog (Exhibit Insight), Museum Exhibit

Museum Case Construction: Ringling Museum of Art Center for Asian Art

We were recently awarded a contract for museum case construction for the Ringling Museum of Art’s new Center for Asian Art. This is an honor, as the Ringling Museum of Art contains one of the preeminent art and cultural collections in the United States. The buildings, the grounds, the Ca ‘dZan Mansion – the Ringling Museum of Art is truly one of the treasures of the state of Florida.

Museum Case Construction

The museum case construction work came off without a hitch. We constructed the cases in the ADM Two warehouse in Tampa and shipped them down to the Ringling Museum for assembly. This was a fairly straightforward job, so in this story we’d like to focus on the museum itself, its rich history, and what makes it so special.

Museum case construction took place at the ADM Two warehouse in Tampa.

Museum case construction took place at the ADM Two warehouse in Tampa.

The Beginning

John Ringling and his brothers were the founders of “The Greatest Show on Earth,” the Ringling Circus. The success of the circus catapulted John and his wife Mable into a position of wealth and influence. They traveled the world in search of acts for the circus, collecting art and appreciating the architecture they encountered along the way. In 1911, they bought the waterfront property that now serves as the campus of the Ringling Museum of Art and some years later they decided to build a home on the property. Mable, who had a fascination with the Venetian Gothic style of the palazzo in Venice, had kept postcards, photos, and made sketches of the lavish architectural style. She supervised the construction of what is now known as the Ca ‘dZan Mansion. It is five stories tall, 36,000 square feet, has 41 rooms and 15 bathrooms. It is a stunning sight to behold.

ringling museum case construction

Historical photo from the Ringling Museum.

Building the Collection

As John Ringling acquired more and more art, he became thoroughly passionate about collecting. His curiosity and passion led him to begin purchasing and reading art books – so many that his collection now forms the foundation of the Ringling Art Library. Soon after construction of the Ca’ d’Zan was complete, John built a 21-gallery museum based on the Florentine Uffizi Gallery to house his collection of paintings, sculptures and other art objects. The avid collector did not open the museum to the public until 1931, two years after Mable’s death. He hoped it would “promote education and art appreciation, especially among our young people.” Upon his death, the estate was left to the people of Florida.

Present Day

The state eventually passed on governance of the Museum of Florida State University. The surrounding community rallied to help restore the museum to its original beauty; community support of the museum has proven to be one of its greatest assets to this day. The museum has continued to grow and expand over the years, and the recent addition of the Center for Asian Art is testament to the museum’s success. Its continued efforts to provide visitors with a comprehensive arts and culture experience will surely have a lasting impact on people from all over the world. Visit their website at www.ringling.org for hours, events, and special exhibitions.

ADM Two doesn’t just envision potential, we make your vision a reality. ADM Two are experts in museum case construction and museum exhibit fabrication. Our staff is prepared to handle even the most challenging projects. Give us a call at (813) 887-1960, and one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with design ideas. Also, check out some of our other articles to get ideas for trade show booth design.