Stories in Space: Design Strategies for Museum Interpretive Materials Effective organization and thoughtful design of text and other didactic materials can help keep visitors from feeling overwhelmed—or under informed—as they try to digest complex layers of information in the museum environment. Join our panelists as they present an overview of the challenges of three varied projects and share concrete examples of tactics used to shape content into engaging, accessible displays and effectively communicate stories in three-dimensional space. This presentation was given by Nicole Trudeau. Moderator: Kitty Connolly, Botanical Interpretation Manager, Huntington Botanical Gardens, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Presenters: Ann Marshall, Principal, Annex Design Services Alice Parman, Independent Interpretive Planner lan Ransenberg, Exhibition Designer, The Alchemy of Design Nicole Trudeau, Owner, Squid Ink Design

1. PART OF
Stories in Space:
Design Strategies for Museum
Interpretive Materials
NICOLE TRUDEAU
SENIOR DESIGNER, J. PAUL GETTY MUSEUM (1999–2013)
WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

2. Floorplan + Overview
Floor Plan (10,000 sq. ft.)
RESIDENTIAL FABRIC
running time 4.23
Planned Communities
42.4
Ge
22nd hry
St.
EX.20 House
13.3.1
90
Morph
osi
6th Str s
ee
Ex.37 t
9
th
EW
CA
RC
E
Fai
TIT
L
EX.52
E
Consumption
EX.
189
EX.80
.78
F120
.170
P. A
l
exa
nde
(S)
TBD
COMMUNITY MAGNETS
intin
Wa
ter
Disney Paradigm
.1
EX
g
UR
&P
owe
BA
N
r
NE
TW
O
Fre
83
ben
RK
ys
h
.1
EX
EX
URBA
nm
ent
F8
BA
N
UR
19
ch
41" sq
City
Cen
tury
EX.2
21
Master
Plan
LAX
BEV
MP
Bird's
THUMS-
Concept
A
THUMS
EX.2013.3.290
ATI
OV
.18
.305
ES
e)
ON
osp
OF
.9
ATI
ace
.10
INN
2004.R.
10.56
10.56
.7
.7
OV
e
Cas
INN
Com
me
rc
2004.R.
10.57
le
(Tab
OF
2004.R.
10.55
ace
2004.R.
10.54
rosp
ES
Aer
IBM
.14
IBM
.13
GIN
ON
ll
EN
EX.1
Oil
kwe
Roc
.3.5
- Ae
City
Durell Stone
S&L
Perpetual S&L Model
(EX.241)
tury
(S)
ll
EOI
PS&L
EX.242
Cen
kwe
Roc
.3.6
Neutra
(S)
Cement Co.
2. SEE ELEVATIONS FOR PLACEMENT OF A/V FURNITURE.
EO
I
h
L.A. CONSTRUCTS THE FUTURE
1940–1990
LAX
Model
EX.23
3
UCR
EX.2013.3.273
EX.2013.3.273
Ben
c
LAX
LAX
ben
1. WALL PLACEMENT IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS IS
DETERMINED BY ADJACENT OR ATTACHED FURNITURE.
TEMPLATES WILL BE REQUIRED TO CONFIRM LOCATIONS
PRIOR TO WALL INSTALLATION.
RK
rtai
14
EX
.2
OVERDRIVE
ion
NE
nte
.178
GIN
EX
.1
lym
pics
&E
ase)
TW
O
I
EO
4O
dia
C
(Table
c
Ele
Pac ay
ilw
Ra F31
p
Ma
Text
Panel
.179
Alweg
ortation
Transp
EN
198
Me
Kappe, 6.7
2008.M.3
ject
EX.7
7
ts -
F142
F86
413
F143
Pro
321
Spo
r
- Public
ys
WORKS
N NET
ewa
.66
CT
ION
08
8
S
.399
.412
.411
.398
Dod
.8
EX
0
DU
.9
EX
F84
Ben
c
INT
RO
.414
ium
970076.1
Sta
d
Disney Hall
S
ewa
ch
ger
5
5
EX.7
Disney Hall
Culture
NOTES:
r Pa
CA
Faith
ULT
UR
Fre
Restaurants
ALL
RC
F6
l
on
xp
ar E
ULT
UR
E
Haagen Beach
Hs Model
2010.M.30
Mo
Petal ss
House
EX.69
esta
nS
tati
Adv
Tech
st-W
7
X.3
F7
Himmelblau
2002.M.2.6
s
ent
erim
Lym
Las Flo an
res Mo
(2011
.M.31 del
.1)
Kappe
2008.MModel
.36.2
pe
d
Oral Histories/
Audio Bar
l
Multi-Family Housing
Rad
Resid ical
entia
Bookstore
cas cash
w
(7
(7' hwraW rap
Wx 'p x
3' D 3' D)
)
Ta
x 2 ble
4" D
x3
6" H
OP12
EX.2013.3.126
.125
72"
W
bookshelf
(5' W x16" D)
IPAD (no audio)
Baldwin Hills Village
Po
.363
F128
In Vitrine on deck:
Nadel, Aliso Village Album
2002.M.42.4
CRADLE
F128, Aliso Village 13 1/2" x 10 3/8"
Unio
F62
lakewood
.1
rk
P
Pa
an 47
ce X.2
O EX
Post-War ExperimentsCase Study
Houses
F61
F111
Ko
2006 enig
.M.30
bookshelf
(5' W x16" D)
Book Bar
Media Title Goes Here
Case Study Houses
Uni
ver
sitie
s
N
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

3. Floorplan + Overview
• Focus on the Multi-centric City
• 420 OBJECTS (Typical Getty show is +/- 150)
• Objects include photographs, works on paper, ephemera, reproductions,
3-D models and sculpture
• Limited budget (1/4 of typical)
• Multi-media content includes projections, ipads with and without audio,
video monitors with and without audio
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

4. Floorplan + Overview
• INTRODUCTION
• (5) MAIN SECTIONS
• (28) FOCUS SECTIONS
• (1) PROJECTION
• (5) MEDIA SCREENS
• (12) IPADS
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

5. PROJECTION + INTRODUCTION
Hierarchy
Bing / Bang / Bongo
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

6. TYP. SECTION TEXT - SCALE!
Hierarchy
Bing / Bang / Bongo
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

7. TYP. SECTION TEXT - COLOR!
Hierarchy
Bing / Bang / Bongo
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

8. TYP. FOCUS TEXT WITH CONTEXT MAP
Hierarchy
Bing / Bang / Bongo
n or t h h ol ly w ood
w e s t h ol ly w ood
pac i f i c
pal i sade s
d o w n to w n
los angeles
Locations featured
in this section
Wartime
Experiments
During World War II, the use of most building
materials was restricted to war-effort construction.
This did not, however, prevent architects from
devising new fabrication strategies that could be
implemented following the conflict. Anticipating the
urgent, extensive need for housing solutions for
returning veterans eager to start their own families,
corporations such as Revere Copper and Brass
sponsored competitions that catalyzed inexpensive
and efficient residential designs.
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

9. MEDIA LABELS - ON SCREEN AND OFF
Hierarchy
Bing / Bang / Bongo
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

10. TOMBSTONE LABEL with NUMBERED OBJECTS
Hierarchy
Bing / Bang / Bongo
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

11. WALL LABEL with REPRODUCTIONS DETAIL
Hierarchy
Bing / Bang / Bongo
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

12. COLOR CUES + BREAKS
Pepto Effect
Make Content Digestable
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

13. OVERALL SCALE - USE VERTICAL SPACE!
Pepto Effect
Make Content Digestable
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

14. MOMENTS OF PAUSE
Pepto Effect
Make Content Digestable
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

15. VISTAS - SEE WHAT’S AHEAD
Pepto Effect
Make Content Digestable
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

16. VARIETY
Pepto Effect
Make Content Digestable
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

17. Conclusion
HIERARCHY
Bing / Bang / Bongo
• Remember your most important messages (BING)
• Give information to support those messages (BANG)
• Support all messages with details (BONGO)
PEPTO BISMOL EFFECT
Make content digestable!
• Be an advocate for the visitor - don’t overwhelm!
• Give the visitor moments of pause and appropriate expectations (views ahead)
• Use paint and other design tools (scale, “sweet spots”) to help focus attention
where it counts
Design Ideas
• Use your limitations to force creative solutions!
Ex: “Embrace the chaos!”
• Collaborate but don’t be afraid to push back
STORIES IN SPACE | WMA 2013 | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH