Exhibit Design
We have been working with museums since our firm was founded at the turn of the century. Our approach to experiential design is visitor-centric and holistic, with an emphasis on exploring interesting and meaningful topics. While we are always interested in the latest technology, we focus on finding the right approach to match the educational and curatorial goals of our partners. We’ve been involved in every step of the exhibit and exhibition design process, from detailing the conceptual approach to planning, fabrication, and final implementation.
We look for unique ways to tell stories, employing technology when it is the best way to engage visitors.
» National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
We enjoy collaborating with museums, design, AV, and architecture firms, content experts, and other partners to create seamless exhibits.
» South Florida Science Center and Aquarium
Our expertise in software development, design, illustration, content creation, and hardware platforms helps us produce superior interactive experiences.
» Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
Software Development
Our software development team has a broad skill set and has worked on a wide range of projects and platforms: everything from creating large immersive environments to programming for microcomputers and other electronics. We strive to find the most efficient approaches to developing software, taking a creative approach to technical planning. We’ve developed software as part of larger exhibit and exhibition projects, but we’ve also partnered with other design firms, AV and fabrication companies, and museums.
We develop exhibits, applications, mobile apps, IoT, and websites.
» Eclipse Camera Mobile App
We emphasize agile development, rigorous testing, and other best practices in software development.
» National Portrait Gallery
Our software team works in Unity3D, C++, C#, Python, and other well-known software languages and tools on a variety of hardware platforms.
» National World War II Museum
Planning, Accessibility, and Evaluation
No matter the size or scale of the exhibit, exhibition, or public installation, our firm has been deeply involved in planning, accessibility, and evaluation. Better, comprehensive planning and more accessible exhibits lead to better educational outcomes. We incorporate accessibility and evaluation into just about every project we take on. With many projects, these activities are formalized and play an integral role in the development process. Some of these activities have even led to white papers covering different aspects of accessibility and evaluation, allowing us to share these findings with the museum and experiential design communities.
We have developed exhibition master plans, designed software to improve accessibility, and conducted rigorous visitor testing and evaluation.
» Valle de Oro Wildlife Center
We believe exhibits should be accessible.
» Audio Accessibility
We learn through testing and apply the lessons to improve the visitor experience.
» Penguins Chow Time
Fabrication
Our fabrication team has developed a wide range of exhibits and custom furniture and cabinetry. Many of these projects have involved incorporating touch displays, LED lighting, electronics, and other technologies. We have also developed more traditional physical exhibits including vitrines, other types of display cases, and even mechanical exhibits. Our modern fabrication studio and other facilities include the latest in CNC, 3D printing, laser cutting, and other new fabrication technologies. We also use traditional woodworking and metal fabrication tools. Watch a video about Ideum Fabrication.
We build custom exhibits and furniture, working in a wide variety of materials including metal, glass, wood, and even stone.
» Marble Touchtable
We combine our fabrication skills with other areas of expertise, such as hardware and software, to create unique exhibits.
» Albuquerque Sunport
We create durable and reliable exhibits for a variety of settings.
» Exploratorium Global Studios
Media / AV Exhibits
Our creative team has designed unique and cutting-edge media systems / AV installations for museums and other public spaces. We’ve worked independently on small and medium-sized projects involving the latest technology and partnered with AV firms on larger exhibitions. We’ve created large video walls, LED tile walls, and immersive environments using projection. We are interested in crafting large-scale media exhibits to provide meaningful experiences for visitors in public spaces.
We plan and design video walls, LED tile walls, projection mapping, and other media-based installations.
» Amada Tile Wall
We are partners with 3M, Absen, Barco, Christie Digital, Crestron, LG, and other top AV companies.
» DinoStomp
Knowledge of media systems combined with design, illustration, animation, content creation, and exhibit development expertise allows us to produce engaging experiences.
» InTune with Nature
Projection Mapping
We believe that emerging technologies like projection mapping should be used for more than just special effects; they can create deeply meaningful interactions which can transform objects and spaces to enhance the visitor experience. We view projection mapping as a tool to allow visitors to explore art, history, science, and cultural topics in new and novel ways. We are one of the only firms in the world that has successfully developed full 360-degree projection mapping.
We see projection mapping as a tool to engage, educate, and inspire visitors.
» Experimental Pottery Project
We create mixed reality environments where visitors can interact in new and exciting ways.
» NMAI Textile Viewer
We partner with artists, curators, educators, and others to develop unique and compelling media installations.
» Virgil Ortiz
IoT Exhibits
The emergence of IoT technologies provides new opportunities to create innovative and compelling experiences. Our interdisciplinary team includes designers, programmers, technologists, engineers, and fabricators who work together to create distinctive and reliable exhibits using new technologies. We have deep experience with LED lighting, sensors, touchless technology, microcomputers, and other devices. Our firm is a leader in tangible user interfaces and small display technologies.
Our experience with IoT combined with software, hardware, and fabrication led to rapid development of award-winning touchless technology during the pandemic.
» Touchless Pedestal
Our understanding of electronics, IoT technologies, 3D printing, and fabrication means that we can build unusual and unique interactive experiences.
» Interactive Model Planes
Our Smart Tangibles have embedded electronics and added features that expand opportunities for investigation and engagement.
» Smart Tangibles