Yes, there ae some good firms, generally, but everyone has some
disappointments with those, too. My question: why do you want to use a
full-service firm in the first place?  It's the most expensive way to do it,
and you have relatively less control. They have to feed the overhead of
their fabrication arm in their pricing, and as the retired founder of one
said to me (when doing exhibit work for me as a lark) "there is always the
tendency to design to keep the boys in the shop busy...'cause the work they
thrive on is big budget, big margin stuff."  Get a seasoned museum designer
with references who has done precisely the sort of exhibition work you're
looking for. Ask them to use local fabricators when possible and
appropriate, and save money.
-----Original Message-----
From: Outagamie County Historical Society <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 12 March 1998 18:14
Subject: Exhibit development firms?


>Our organization is exploring options for potential interpretive upgrades.
>In the coming years, we are considering using a full-service exhibit
>development/design/production firm to overhaul our existing permanent
>exhibits or create new ones. Unfortunately, many of the stories we have
>heard are from institutions that have NOT had good experiences. I am
>convinced that SOMEBODY out there must be doing a good job!
>
>Has your institution used an outside firm for exhibit development
>activities? What are the strengths and weaknesses of specific companies? We
>are interested in everything from feasibility studies to installation, for
>in-house and traveling exhibits. In particular, we are curious about the
>benefits and drawbacks of turnkey solutions involving fundraising and
>marketing activities. If you have experiences to share, good or bad, please
>reply to [log in to unmask]
>
>Thanks for your input!
>
>Meg Ehr
>Curator
>Outagamie Museum and Houdini Historical Center
>330 E. College Ave.
>Appleton, WI  54911
>(920) 735-9370 x105