KURT HAUNFELNER
Principal | KEH Creative Consulting, LLC
Widely recognized for his creative vision, passion for creating one-of-a-kind visitor experiences and success leading diverse project teams.
KURT HAUNFELNER
Principal | KEH Creative Consulting, LLC
Widely recognized for his creative vision, passion for creating one-of-a-kind visitor experiences and success leading diverse project teams.
Kurt Haunfelner has been a leader in the exhibit and attraction design field for 38+ years. Most recently, Kurt served as Vice President of Exhibits and Collections, at the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI), Chicago, the largest science and technology museum in the US.
During his 15-year tenure, he directed the ideation, design and execution of 16 major permanent exhibits, and more than 100 temporary exhibits, valued at $125+ million.
The collective impact of these exhibits has transformed the Museum, garnering a host of prestigious national and international awards.
Prior to his work at MSI, Kurt held senior creative and project management posts at Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative design division of the Disney Company; and with BRC Imagination Arts, a leading experience design firm. Over the course of his career, exhibition and attraction projects directed by Kurt have won more than 40 major national and international design awards.
Kurt has worked closely with many of the field’s leading exhibit and media design firms, including: Thinkwell Group, BRC Imagination Arts, Gallagher and Associates, Evidence Design, Luci Creative, Donna Lawrence Productions, Cortina Productions, and others.
MEET OUR TEAM
“It takes a village” to produce world-class museum and attraction experiences! Kurt is fortunate to have long-standing, trusted relationships with some of the best in the field. Depending on the needs of your project and its design, financial and operating objectives, Kurt may engage one or more of these specialty collaborators to support the mission:
SHANNON ALEXANDER
Principal, Alexander-Ross Group
Full-service fundraising consulting firm, including capital campaign planning, major gifts, and donor cultivation & stewardship.
ANN BERCHTOLD
Principal, APT101
On-demand agency providing media relations and marketing expertise, including brand strategy, advertising, public relations, sponsorship and digital marketing.
JOE DINUNZIO
President, FIDO Management
Specializing in innovation strategy related to product and service development, capability assessment, network activation and new venture launches.
ROBIN STEWART HALL
Principal
Award-winning theme designer, artist and illustrator internationally known for his exceptional work in theme park, museum and specialty attraction design.
BRIAN LEE
FAIA, LEED AP, Design Partner, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)
As a senior partner in SOM’s award-winning design practice, Brian believes that architecture must respond to genuine human needs while achieving inspirational results.
ANGELES MORENO
Principal, Anaimation | Motion Graphic Design
Integrating graphic design, visual storytelling and media with a compelling aesthetic, Anaimation offers a wide array of professional graphic design services.
ELORY ROZNER
Founder/CEO, Uncommon Classrooms
Informal learning and visitor experience designer and skilled evaluator applying research and emerging trends to educational programs, products and experiential environments.
FRANK WEIGAND
President, TWT Group
Best-in-class engineering, systems design and technical project management for themed entertainment experiences, museum exhibits, prototyping and show systems.
CAREER TIMELINE
Principal, KEH Creative Consulting, LLC
Since late 2017, Kurt has led a major start-up initiative in San Diego, CA – San Diego Invents – conceived as a large-scale “innovation exposition and festival event” throughout the San Diego region.
Vice President, Exhibits + Collections, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Kurt provided creative and project management direction for all of MSI’s permanent and temporary exhibitions, including leading the Division staff of 60+, as well as managing the Museum’s 37,000 piece artifact collection. His team’s accomplishments include:
- U-505 (2005/$32mm) – widely recognized as the most noteworthy exhibition of a historically significant naval artifact in the United States.
- You! The Experience (2009/$20m) – ground-breaking exhibition on health, wellness and the human body.
- Science Storms (2010/$32mm) – winner of 22 major design awards, including the American Alliance of Museums “Excellence in Exhibitions” Award, and the ASTC “Leading Edge Award.”
- Future Energy Chicago (2012/$7.5mm) – winner of the American Alliance of Museums “Gold Muse Award;” and the 2014 recipient of the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) “Leading Edge Award.”
- Numbers in Nature (2014/$4.0mm) – permanent exhibition centered on the intimate connection between mathematics and the natural world, including an 1,800sf mirror maze.
- Robot Revolution (2015/$3.6mm) – a cutting-edge exhibition including more than 35 functional, interactive robots, presently on national tour supported by a $2 million grant from Google.
Project Director: Landmark Entertainment
Led a multi-disciplinary design team in the conceptual & schematic design of the Olympic Spirit Center, in Toronto, Canada, a $35 million visitor attraction developed for Penn Equity Realty, Toronto, Canada, and sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee.
Director, Show Design and Production: Warner Bros. Studios, Movie-World Madrid
Directed a multi-disciplinary design team in the ideation and development of approximately $75 million in themed show production for the $500 million Warner Bros. Movie World Madrid theme park in Madrid, Spain.
Senior Design Manager: DisneyQuest, Chicago, Walt Disney Imagineering
Key member of a senior management team responsible for the development of DisneyQuest Chicago, a $55 million indoor themed attraction created by the Walt Disney Company.
Project Producer, BRC Imagination Arts
Led the design, production and installation of three large-scale visitor attractions, including the award-winning $37mm Apollo/Saturn V Center at Kennedy Space Center, Florida; Mystery Lodge, a $6mm special effects theater at Knott’s Berry Farm, in Los Angeles; and Ocean Base Atlantic ($3mm), at the New Jersey State Aquarium.
Project Manager, Walt Disney Imagineering
Project management responsibility for the multi-million dollar EPCOT Renewals portfolio and, working closely with a senior creative executive, led a multi-disciplinary team in the conceptualization of the Animal Kingdom theme park, at Walt Disney World, Florida. The Animal Kingdom went on to become Walt Disney World’s fourth gated attraction.
Assistant Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Governor Leo McCarthy
Represented the Lieutenant Governor on major statewide issues in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, working with the public and local governments on a range of policy issues, including economic development, transportation, education and healthcare.
Business and Marketing Associate, Walt Disney Imagineering
Established high-level advisory committees to assist in the development of EPCOT Center, Florida; co-produced the EPCOT Forum, a conference on emerging ideas in education and technology, bringing together leading figures in business, government and academia.
District Representative, Congressman Jerry M. Patterson
Managed a district office staff of ten employees; drafted speeches, press releases and newsletters on a range of legislative issues; prepared constituent communications and participated in the development of the Congressman’s legislative and policy agenda.
Community Service
- President and Board Member, Anaheim High School District Board of Trustees (1979-86)
- Selected as CORO Public Affairs Leadership Fellow (1981 & 1986)
- Member, President’s Council, Chicago Council on Global Affairs (2014-17)
- Member, 1st Division Museum Board of Advisors (2013-17)
Education
- Anderson Graduate School of Management, UCLA, Executive Management Program (1989)
- California State University, Fullerton, Bachelor of Arts (1979)
EXPERIENCE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND CLIENTS INCLUDE:
