EXPLORING
WHAT IF?
The creative journey starts with a ‘blue sky’ process that simply asks– WHAT IF? WHAT IF… we could take our audience to a place they’ve never been? WHAT IF… we could swim with dolphins? WHAT IF… we could inspire a child to be an astronaut? Through an inclusive process of facilitated brainstorming and human-centered design:
- We’ll explore the boundaries of what’s possible, creating a bold and achievable vision – answering “WHAT IF?”
- We’ll engage key stakeholders in defining & refining the vision through collaboration and consensus-building.
- We’ll facilitate and seek clarity around vision, mission, audience and business objectives.
DISCOVERING
YOUR WHY
Your “WHY” is the reason you exist. It’s the essence of what you aspire to be. It’s also the driving force behind connecting with your audience and designing authentic experiences. Discovering your “Why” is building the bridge between “WHAT IF” and “CAN DO”.
“People don’t buy what you do, they buy WHY you do it!” – Simon Sinek
In the process of illuminating your WHY, we’ll clarify your vision and mission, identify your audience, and build your story and experiential goals!
GUIDING
WHAT & HOW
Conceiving an idea that’s powerfully connected to your “WHY” is necessary for achieving an exceptional visitor outcome, but not sufficient. The success of any museum exhibition or attraction ultimately depends on how well the vision, mission, story, audience, and business objectives are aligned and in sync. We’ll make sure the creative vision and practical execution work hand-in-hand, including:
- Benchmarking best-in-class projects
- STEAM evaluation & integration to align with core learning objectives
- Master planning, including budget, schedule and fundraising
- Pitch Package development to support sponsorship & fundraising goals
- Vendor management, including RFQs, RFPs and peer reviews
- Engineering & technical evaluation, including facilities integration
OUR PROCESS OBJECTIVES
BRAINSTORMING
Open, inclusive, participatory and based on best practice, human-centered design
COLLABORATION
Committed to engaging and achieving consensus among key stakeholders
NARRATIVE
Storytelling is the foundation of an effective interpretative strategy
ENGAGEMENT
Audience is ALWAYS at the center – strive for inspired and authentic engagement
EXPERIENCE
Engage Kurt’s 3 “H’s”:
Head → Intellect
Hands → Tactile
Heart → Emotional Connection
TECHNOLOGY
Technology is used in service to the story – not the reverse
PLANNING
Design is empowered by clear boundaries of budget and schedule
MANAGEMENT
Exceptional visitor outcomes are the result of managing every detail
Exceptional visitor experiences are the consequence of inspired vision combined with thoughtful planning and rigorous execution.
With the thread of an idea for a compelling exhibit, visitor’s center or interpretative experience, the question often becomes – where do I start AND how do I know I’m getting experienced, independent, objective advice? That’s where I come in – with 38+ years of professional practice, I’ve seen it all. I know what it takes to bring big ideas to life, build high-performance teams and drive the design process to an exceptional outcome.