A new book by Professor Timothy J McNeil, director of the UC Davis Design Museum, is an insightful guide for creating successful museum and gallery exhibitions, and themed environments. In The Exhibition and Experience Design Handbook (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / American Alliance Of Museums, 2023), McNeil explores exhibition design history, practice, methods and techniques, and demonstrates how design contributes to the expanding role of creating experiences.

McNeil’s book illustrates how today’s multi-modal, participatory exhibitions and attractions are created with a desire to convey information, excite the viewer, and create social and narrative experiences. Without design at the helm and employed effectively, these experiential moments would not become lasting memories that inform and inspire an increasingly sophisticated audience.

“This book provides valuable insights into an often-overlooked area of design practice,” said McNeil. “Exhibitions and experiences are literally everywhere and anywhere and not just in museums.”

“Twelve essential design principles and methods are discussed and deconstructed using over 250 images, 36 case studies, and multiple examples from a span of 100 years. The book is the ultimate guide to understanding exhibition and experience design.”

McNeil has discussed his book on the podcasts “We The Museum” and “Making the Museum.”