Word of warning when using designers - give them very specific instructions
about what you consider absolutely necessary (eg. specific font size for
information panels etc.) and make sure that they adhere to these
specifications.  I work as a contract curator/project manager so I have a
great deal of control over the projects that I am involved in - however, I
insist that the Museums who hire me provide specific instructions - whether
they want to or not.  Even with the best of intentions miscommunication can
result in a bad working experience.  It is better to appear like a 'control
freak' than to end up with a project that you are not happy with.

Years back when I was completeing my Museums Studies degree at Leicester
University, I interned at the Museum of Transport in Glasgow.   I was
assisting the curator with a pilot gallery redisplay - the "Bicycles"
Gallery.  Unfortunately, she did not keep a tight reign on the design team.
Keep in mind, this team was part of the Museum service and was very
experienced in museum work.  The resulting display was visually impressive,
but was rather a failure in Museum terms.   The text was hard to read (small
black lettering on coloured panels), there were not enough objects on
display (disturbed their aesthetic) and the interactive components of the
exhibit were unsuccessful because the instructions were not presented well
(again, compromised because of their aesthetic vision).  As a result, the
curator (not the designers) was given the blame for the limited success of
the project.  Granted, she was a fault on a number of counts having to do
with the concept of the gallery but I believe the design problems could have
been avoided if she had been firmer with what she wanted and insisted from
the start about exhibit standards.

Although I currently live & work in Canada, I was trained in England and
have kept up with the news from over the pond.  If you would like to
continue this discussion I would love to hear from you.  Please address all
correspondence to [log in to unmask]  Good Luck!

K. Linda Tzang
K.L. Tzang Museum Consultant
-----Original Message-----
From: Jane Burrell <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: November 13, 1998 7:34 AM
Subject: DESIGNER or PROJECT MANAGER


If you had to choose between a designer, or a project manager for the re-
design and re-display of a small local history museum, which would you
favour?
The following details may help:
*  £50,000 (max) budget - to cover fees, building works, fixtures/fittings,
graphics, etc
*  local authority museum - ie access to planning, building and related
departments
*  due to re-open in April 2000 - ie a little under 18 months
*  Museums Officer (myself) has prepared layouts, storylines, etc.
I should be grateful for advice and suggestions.  In the main, I really want
to know whether a project manager is more versatile than a designer.  For
the
same fee would we be getting a better deal with a project manager?

I know!  These things are dependent upon the skills, exerience and contacts
of
each person.  However, we are poised to recruit ... and it would be helpful
for me to know upon which 'type' I should concentrate.

With thanks.

Jane Burrell
Museums Officer
West Dorset District Council