Twenty Center for Conservation Leadership students spent Saturday, January 8, 2011 at the Shedd Aquarium. The students listened as the Shedd’s VP of Design, Bryan Schuetze, explained and demonstrated the process of exhibit design. Colby Mitchell and Domonique Isaac, directors of the Shedd’s Semester in the Great Lakes Program, charged the students with the task of conceiving and designing an interactive exhibit at the Shedd centered around a conservation issue.
The students explored the Shedd’s exhibits with a new perspective – what visitors want to see and how best to design an exhibit to incorporate learning, enjoyment and ambience. Collaborating with the Shedd’s Semester in the Great Lakes Program students, the students worked in groups using technology and other art materials as they developed their project ideas into models.
The students came up with exhibits geared toward educating the public on ocean garbage, recycling of cell phones, and an interactive redesign of the local waters exhibit. Bryan admired the creativity and relevance of the student ideas and suggested that he might use some of these in planning future exhibits. All came away with a very different and deeper appreciation of museum exhibits!
Post submitted by Susie Hoffman, Lake Forest Open Lands Association