Design Thinking for ExhibitsArt History 430Prof. Anna Campbell

Crash Course in Design Thinking for ExhibitsAdapted from the Stanford d School Crash Course Design Challenge

Design an exhibit experience for a colleague

Empathize

Meet your crash course partner:

What is their name? What pronouns, if any, should you use to introduce them to the class?

What is the best/ most transformational/ most important experience they’ve ever had at an exhibit?

2 min for each partner

Empathize

Dig deeper:

Why did they respond so powerfully to that experience?Was it intellectual? Emotional? Aesthetic? Relational?

2 min for each partner

Empathize

Reflection:

Why are they connecting with that exhibit? What values are they revealing in their narration to you?What larger issues are in play in relation to their concerns?What is transferable to a future experience/ exhibit?

2 min

Define

Problem Statement:

My partner needs a cultural experience that________________________________________________________

Interestingly, an important way to connect with them and their values includes________________________________________________________

2 min

Ideate

Make a series of quick thumbnail sketches representing exhibit experiences that you think will resonate with your partner.

Think expansively, take risks, push against norms and expectations.

2 min

Ideate

Partners give feedback on sketches(brutal honestly required – they need to narrow down their thumbnails!)

2 min for each partner

Prototype

Draw a diagram/ floorplan for an exhibit that responds to their needs/ desires as articulated by your conversations and their feedback.

2 min

Sharing the Results

Elevator pitch for your exhibit experience

Presentation Themes

ActivismInstitutional CritiqueDecolonizationRepresentationCensorshipCurator as AuteurCapital/ Economy