Museum Interpretation: Exhibits and their Captions

Laurel CasjensUtah Office of Museum Services

lcasjens@utah.gov

What makes a good interpretive exhibit?

The Big Idea: The major theme or storyWell written informationVisually appealingInteresting objectsWell laid out/organized Encourages explorationVisitor is comfortable

Planning an ExhibitForm an Exhibit TeamIdentify the Big Idea (the story)Organize the layoutChoose objects that tell your story

Display in a safe and attractive manner

Write captions or labels telling your storyEvaluate throughout

Who are your visitors?Do they understand and are they interested?

The Big IdeaOne Sentence that tells what the Exhibit is about (identifies the story)

Identify subthemes

Reflects what you want visitors to learn and retain

Creates a cohesive whole to which everything in the exhibition relates

Visually Appealing

CleanNot crowded Colors are not overwhelmingLight enough to see; some objects can be spotlightedProps (but need to be subdued)

Interesting ObjectsWell Laid out and Organized

Tell their storyDon’t crowd themArrange by some criterion that helps you tell their storyPeople want to understand what they are seeing

Encourages Exploration

Exhibit has learning objective, impacts visitorsRoom for visitors to look at items togetherAdditional information availableHands on, multimedia, etc.

Visitor is comfortable

Signage tells where things areRestrooms, Layout if not obvious

Labels are easy to readThere is room to gather together to look at exhibitsEnough light to seeTemperature is comfortablePlaces to sit

Captions

Captions tell the story (The Big Idea and all the sub themes and details that make the story interesting)

Must be easy to read

Need to make sense regardless of the order in which they are read

Types of Captions

Main Exhibition Title Introductory LabelCase Titles Group LabelsCaption LabelsObject Details

Exhibition Title

3-8 wordsMay have subtitleShould reflect the Big Idea—give people some idea of what the exhibit is aboutEvaluate: make sure potential visitors can figure out what you mean

Case Title

3-8 wordsMay have subtitleWhat is the story/purpose of this case

Introductory Label

20-300 WordsIntroduce the Big Idea and add an overviewOrient visitors to space (if needed)

Group Labels

20 to 150 WordsSubtheme: story told by the exhibit case or by a group of objectsStart label with information about objects.Then relate these objects to the Big Idea

Caption Labels

20-150 wordsInterpret individual objects/illustrationsStart by talking about the objectsThen relate to Big Idea

Object Details

10-20 wordsWhat Object is, material, use, donor, date of donation, etc.Should all be consistent in form and order Placed next to object (numbered lists much harder to read)

WritingUse simple, clear languageActive sentences are more compelling Vary length of sentences and paragraphsMake chunks of text

Content

Start with object and move to Big IdeaRestrict text to important ideasMake sure facts are correct

Placing Captions

Captions shouldn’t harm objectsNo pins through textilesNo high-acid paper directly on objectsNo scotch tape, tacks, staples etc. attached to object

Fonts

Choose one that is easy to ReadCan be serif (Times Roman – T g y l)or sans-serif (Arial –T g y l)Use Bold only in TitlesUse only small amounts of ItalicUse limited number of fonts

Use a Simple Font

Color Color Color Color

Use large contrast between letters and paperDon’t use opposite colorsDon’t use a busy backgroundCan use different colors for different types of captions

VoiceGroup labels vs. object descriptions

White on Yellow is bad

Blue on red is bad

Black on Blue is Bad

Back Ground too Busy

This is Way Too Large

Edit and Evaluate

Edit and Edit again; cut out ALL unneeded textEvaluate; have people who are not part of the museum read the text to see if they understand it and find it interesting

Placing Captions

Captions shouldn’t harm objectsNo pins through textilesNo high-acid paper directly on objectsNo scotch tape, tacks, staples etc. attached to object

Preparing CaptionsHands on

Equipment and Supplies Computer and PrinterPaper–pastel or earth tone, not flimsyMounting boardSpray Mount (permanent—not repositional)Heavy rulerMat Cutter (mounted or hand held) ORExacto Knife

Print Caption

Shape like a block, not a line

Print several on one sheet--Leave 2 inches between them

Put a box around them if you want—about 1/3 inch for small, more for large labels

Minimum size about 3” x 1.5”

Mounting Board

Use 4 ply acid free mount board (cut with mat cutter)

orFoam Core (cut with exacto knife)

Mounting board should be larger than paper with captions

Mount paper to boardSpray Mount (well ventilated space)

Shake up spray mountPlace label paper on newspaper (face down)Coat paper evenly with spray

Hit edgesDon’t Glop

Place paper on board—Two people—one lays it from one side and other flattens (rubs) with cotton gloves or roller

Or use dry mount press and dry mount tissue

Leave extra space around paper (especially foam core)

Put under weight for a few hours

Trimming

Leave more space for larger labelsIf you printed a box, you will cut inside the box

Bevel Cut (mat cutter)

Use mat cutter so angle leads to outside Use 4 ply mat boardThis is opposite normal mat cutting)

Vertical Cut: Exacto knife

Exacto knife along a heavy ruleror

Mounted straight cutterFoam Core cuts easily; mat board is also ok