From Observation to Process
Context
Two days ago, you visited the art gallery and spoke with the curator.
You observed how an exhibition is designed, what constraints shape it, and how decisions are made.
Today, your task is to turn those observations into something usable — a shared understanding that could actually guide future work.
This is not a reflection paper.
It is a collective reconstruction of a process.
Overall Goal
As a class, produce a short, coherent document set that answers:
“If we had to design an exhibition ourselves, based on what we learned, how would we do it?”
Your output should be practical, structured, and grounded in what you observed and learned — not speculation.
How to Work
You will:
- Break into small groups for focused work
- Then recombine to produce a single, unified final report
One person should act as an editor / coordinator to ensure consistency of tone and structure.
Deliverables (What You Will Produce)
Your final submission should include three parts, combined into a single document (or clearly labeled sections).
Part 1 — Observed Constraints and Design Factors
Prompt:
Based on observation and curator discussion, what constraints and factors shape how an exhibition is designed?
Small-Group Task
Split into 2–3 groups. Each group focuses on a different angle, such as:
- Physical space & layout
- Visitor experience & flow
- Curatorial goals & narrative
- Practical constraints (lighting, security, budget, time)
Each group produces:
- A short list of specific constraints
- A brief explanation of why each one matters
Avoid vague statements. Be concrete.
Part 2 — Reconstructed Process (The Core)
Prompt:
Reconstruct the exhibition design process as a sequence of steps.
This is the most important part.
Whole-Group Task
As a class, collaboratively produce a step-by-step process that looks something like:
- Initial inputs and constraints
- Early decisions
- Intermediate refinements
- Final adjustments
For each step:
- Describe what decisions are made
- Note what information is required
- Identify what can change later vs. what is fixed early
This should read like a guide someone else could follow.
Part 3 — A Practical “If We Were the Curators” Artifact
Prompt:
Create something that would actually help a group design an exhibition.
Choose one of the following formats (or propose one similar):
Option A: A Checklist
A concise checklist a curator (or student team) would use when planning an exhibition.
Option B: A Decision Flow Diagram (Textual)
A written flow like:
- “If the space is ___, then ___”
- “If visitor flow is a priority, then ___”
Option C: A Set of Guiding Questions
A refined list of questions that force good exhibition design decisions.
This artifact should clearly reflect what you learned — not generic advice.
Expectations for Quality
Your final document should:
- Be concise (not padded)
- Use clear structure and headings
- Distinguish observation from inference
- Reflect shared understanding, not disconnected pieces
Think of this as something you’d hand to:
“The next group trying to do this for the first time.”
Submission
Submit:
- One combined document (PDF or shared doc)
- Clearly labeled sections for Parts 1–3
- All group members listed at the top
- Email it to skonjp@kenyon.edu