EXHIBIT LABELS
This is a thorough discussion of the importance of interpretive labels and the challenges museums face to present them in a way that strengthens exhibits and provides visitors with learning opportunities.
Big idea: Labels should serve the big idea of the exhibit and be short, focused, concrete, interpretive, understandable, and consistent in design and organization.
Strength: Well-written. The book is extremely practical. It covers all aspects of labels and many other related topics including evaluation.
Weakness: None.
Key concepts: Interpretation is an art, which combines many arts. Good interpretation is like good story telling and lets the listener participate by anticipating where the story is going. Learning styles, along with other educational models and theories, have limited application for the informal learning of museum exhibitions.
Contents: Behind it all: a big idea; What are interpretive labels; Types of labels in exhibitions; Who is the audience?; Learning styles; Levels of information and modalities; Writing visitor-friendly labels; Selecting the right reading level; Bilingual labels; Labels that ask questions; Getting started; The number of words; Evaluation during development; Making words and images work together; Labels for interactive exhibits; Electronic labels and hypermedia; Typographic design; Production and fabrication; Evaluation after opening; Ten deadly sins. - David P ( )