Exhibit Labels: An Interpretive Approach

Provides exhibit designers and label writers with a step-by-step guidebook for planning, writing and producing exhibit labels.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Neil Postman Preface Introduction Part 1: Overview Chapter 1: Behind It All: A Big Idea Chapter 2: What Are Interpretive Labels? Chapter 3: Types of Labels in Exhibitions Part 2: Considering the Audience Chapter 4: Who Is the Audience (and What Do They Want)? Chapter 5: Learning Styles Chapter 6: Levels of Information and Modalities Chapter 7: Writing Visitor-Friendly Labels Chapter 8: Selecting the Right Reading Level Chapter 9: Bilingual Labels Chapter 10: Labels That Ask Questions Part 3: Tasks Chapter 11: Getting Started (and Getting It Done) Chapter 12: The Number of Words Chapter 13: Evaluation During Development Chapter 14: Making Words and Images Work Together Chapter 15: Labels for Interactive Exhibits Chapter 16: Electronic Labels and Hypermedia Chapter 17: Typographic Design Chapter 18: Production and Fabrication Chapter 19: Evaluation After Opening Part 4: Summary Ten Deadly Sins and 14 Helpful Research Findings Glossary Resource List Bibliography Figure Credits Index

About the Author :
Serrell & Associates

Review :
Serrell's book is full of good, sound advice, based on solid research and years of experience, presented clearly and interestingly.... Only someone extraordinarily passionate about creating effective communication between museums and visitors and who has worked for many years in all types of museums could have produced such a calm, simply-stated nonpartisan book on what one curator has called 'the great nemesis of museum life.' This book is not merely about choosing words to put on exhibit labels; it is about attracting, communicating, inspiring, and helping visitors get what they are seeking....Once you have read this book, it is impossible to ignore it. I find that Serrell's commentary comes to mind during all of my writing activities. One of the most notable qualities that gives the book its lingering nature is Serrell's personable voice throughout the text....This is an important text for anyone who is involved with the creation of exhibitions. Surely a masterpiece. The author has done a great job in explaining to the reader about creating interpretive signage, where words compensate for sensory experience...This book has filled the void that existed in the field of exhibit presentation in museums and zoos worldwide. In this easy to read book, Serrell thoroughly shares her vast experience on label design by explaining all aspects to consider, not only from the designer's point of view, but also, and most importantly, from the sudience's perspective...From physical aspects such as space, layout, lighting and materials, to conceptual aspects such as objectives, ideas and messages, to finally human aspects focusing on visitors' expectations, backgrounds and learning styles, they are all part of this excellent step-by-step guide to designing and building successful exhibit labels...Perhaps the most valuable lesson in this book is the urgent need for a systematic evaluation of exhibit labels, before and after they are built...This is well received at a time when professionals involved in the field of environmental education are really questioning the effectiveness and impact of exhibit labels on the visiting public...Serrell's work illustrates how developing front-end, formative and summative evaluations offers a thorough process for adjusting the designer's ideas with the public expectations. Clearly presented, flawlessly argued, and filled with both visual and verbal examples, I was most impressed by the layout. The book itself is a metaphor for the ideal exhibition about which all museum educators dream.