Design process is extremely important, if not the most crucial aspect in developing a great exhibit plan. In his own words, author Jerffery Veen states that “Good designers can create normalcy out of chaos; they can clearly communicate ideas through the organizing and manipulating of words and pictures”. Exhibit designers take this a step further by communicating ideas through words, pictures and the entire structure itself.

Architects, engineers, graphic designers - They are all taught to generate and develop an idea through the means of process. This varying idea is significant in exhibit design and should be applied at all times. Design thinking and process should not only be a designer’s responsibility but that of a client too. All ideas develop somewhere and the same can be said for exhibit design. These conceptual ideas are initially derived from the client who outlines their budget, needs and aesthetic requirements of their booth, this usually takes place before a designer starts their initial exploration. Bridging these two separate entities early on in a project is important in making sure everyone has the same vision for the end result. This relationship between client and designer should always be maintained to assure that both parties are satisfied and thinking within the same realms. The following key factors should always be taken into consideration when dealing with the design and development of an exhibit.

Storyline

A storyline is a natural way of beginning a dialogue with your audience, whether the audience is a designer you're working with or your end customer. Companies such as SkullCandy carry a unique and self-explanatory storyline that is emphasized through their designs with elements such as playfulness and the experimentation of color. As designers our objective is to carry a storyline and translate it to a design that fits both form and function while sustaining our client’s budget and needs.

Conceptual development

This phase includes taking down all the important design requirements and generating a design program that should be agreed upon by both the client and designer. Once an agreement is reached, the phase ends with the designer kick-starting the project, during which factors such as functionality, space orientation and traffic flow should all be taken into great consideration.

Communication

Remember to discuss the design progress with your design team whenever an important phase or stage in design has been reached. This assures the design is developed towards the right path and the client's visions still attained. Waiting too long to discuss progress with your team can be costly and easily lead to unnecessary revisions.

Attention to detail

Do more with less when the challenge comes up. Just because a client approaches the design team with a small budget or a lot of requirements, doesn’t mean the job can’t be done. Discuss with your design team your overall vision and prioritize what elements are most important to you. An open discussion will help everyone understand what details are important, which will help keep the design intact when it comes to simplifying to fit within a realistic budget. Sometimes it’s impossible to give the client what they want, so the best alternative is for the design team to suggest ideas or different approaches that still lies within the expected results but may be less costly in the end.

Lighting

Lighting is extremely important and a flexible sales tool. Proper use of lighting within an exhibit can serve a range of uses such as evoking emotions, highlighting products, directing people and mainly draw in attention. All great exhibits utilize lighting to their advantage and it is no wonder why many people are always drawn in by this element. Discuss ideas and importance of lighting with your team and always make sure that the proper elements or products are lit well to draw in the necessary attention.

Graphic design

Having clear and concise graphics help to identify and attract targeted visitors. Displaying the strengths and services of a company through illustration is an easier and faster way of letting someone know who you are and what you do. It is important to use the right graphics and callouts throughout your booth to assure yourself and your client that visitors are aware of what they are looking at and services provided at all points of view.

So the year has already seen many "gift exchanges" taking place.  The White Elephant has become common place in offices across the country.  Indeed, even some JDHgroup employees are salivating at the opportunity to continue this lasting, if not frustrating, holiday tradition.

What will this year bring?  We'll find out in a few days.  

When things get a little crazy around here we tend to work long hours, and sometimes taking an afternoon nap is called for. If you're a snuggler, like Tom, then you just can't fall asleep without something giving you a little snuggle back. That's what Superman is for.

OK, so it wasn't Halloween when it happened, but close enough for this man's blog entry.

October evil had somehow made its way into the project.  First, the graphic vinyl lettering that I planned to mount to the glass, would not stick.  If you have ever been frustrated with a piece of scotch tape stuck to your finger and couldn't get it off, that's what this experience was like, times ten.  Try as I might, every attempt to get the lettering laid up, failed.  After a scathing phone call to the graphics manager back at the office, sorry BT, we moved on to the next task on the job.

We should have known something was up when Ben was panting from lifting the large panes of glass with suction cups.  Ben never gets tired.  The team positioned two ladders next to the display case and placed suction cups on a large piece of glass.  I was assisting the team by steadying the pieces of the case as they assembled.  The crew moved the pane of glass into position and climbed up the ladders.  Directly below two workers and while placing my hand on the stationary piece of glass, I heard a loud POP!

Small ice cube shaped pieces of glass began to hit the grey vinyl floor where my eyes were focused.  Time seemed to slow down as I heard crunching and crashing coming from all around.  I began to feel my arms get sprayed with the diamond like pieces of glass.  My head and neck took the brunt of the shattered glass panel as it fell from ten feet above my head.  I could tell that large chunks had hit directly on top of my head and into the side of my neck.  After a few startling seconds, with a few final pieces of glass tumbling to the floor, I think I mumbled a quick, "Is everybody OK?"

The sight of the first case filled with shattered glass brought an immediate thought of "Oh Man, now we'll need another piece of glass."  That thought turned quickly to "Ow, my neck!"  I was still looking down at the floor as I began to walk past the case to get a rag.  I knew I was cut, I could see a half dozen spots on my arm where pieces had peppered my skin.  My plan was to run to the bathroom, get cleaned up, and get back to work.  I mentioned something to the crew about cleaning this up, but they might have been slightly distracted.  As Ben puts it, "You had two huge chunks of glass, one sticking out of your head, the other sticking out of your neck."  I would be distracted too.

So I began to step carefully past the broken glass and make my way to the bathroom when a visiting nurse from Massachusetts promptly snagged my arm.  She said something like, "Sit down, right here."  From that point on the world around me went in and out of focus for the next few hours.  It was all automatic.  I remember a lot of questions about where I was, what time it was and what my favorite color was.  The museum has on-staff emergency personnel that were there in an instant.  Within minutes I was surrounded by the visiting nurse, two local EMT's, a helpful bystander that seemed to know a lot about keeping elevated, and a museum staffer named "Squeaky" who obviously was trained and eager to help with something like this.

My vitals were taken several times, and amid questions to determine if I was coherent, I took a look at my own blood, and went into shock.  I don't really like the sight of my own blood so it didn't take much.  A drop on the floor I think.  Really, what put me into shock was the discussion of the open wound on my neck, the topic of blood in general, and the look on Ben's face as he nervously paced back and forth calling in to the office.  To say he was scared is an understatement.

The Park City Fire Department arrived quickly and carted me off in the ambulance.  At some point Ben mentioned that Joel was on his way.  "Somebody must really be hurt if Joel is coming, " I thought.  Oh wait, that was me.  Once again, the Paramedic took my vitals.  It must have been Cancer awareness month or a bold statement by the PCFD because the bright pink shirt worn by the Paramedic was a bit blinding.  They were very professional and comforting as we drove to the new Park City Medical Center.

My thoughts turned to scenes from "ER" as the ambulance pulled into the driveway at the emergency entrance.  They rolled my mobile cart into the new pride of IHC, which was very nice indeed.  As they rounded the corner into the emergency room, there before me were 20 (no not a typo) medical personnel ready to treat my wounds.  Either it was training day or Joel slipped them a Benjamin and told them to take good care of me.  Maybe it wasn't 20 but it sure seemed like it.  Either way, the buzz from the museum ramped up to hyper drive at the hospital.  I felt special.

To mark this event with an added bonus, my primary doctor was Dr. Kellee Reed Shea of Orlando, Florida.  A notable tie to the Olympic Museum, were I received my injuries, Dr. Shea is married to Olympian Jimmy Shea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Shea

Dr. Shea reassured me that they were taking extra caution due to the fact that this section of the neck is referred to as the "Triangle of Death."  I suggested a different nickname be used when talking to a trauma victim.  We laughed, I went into shock once again, and Dr. Shea removed the piece of glass, still protruding out of my neck.  I must have been a medical challenge as I heard the words, "Why aren't we getting any readings?", multiple times through the afternoon.  Even though I faced the triangle of death and lived to tell about it, when the medical assistant put in the IV, I about jumped out of my skin.  As I was beginning to feel better from the pain, Dr. Shea mentioned how the ground was crunching under feet from all the extra glass that had dumped off my body.

To summarize my day, I received around 10 lacerations to my body, 5 stitches in my neck, a large knock to the head, went into shock at least twice, I was treated by a traveling nurse, Squeaky, a stranger, two Alf Engin Museum EMTs, Two PCFD Paramedics, three medical assistants, two nurses, one guy that puts in the IV (OUCH!), three clerical assistants, one MRI technician, one MRI trainee, two guys that were just hanging out, one desk receptionist who still wants a copy of my drivers license and Dr. Shea.

Thank you Park City Medical Center and Dr. Shea.  Your treatment was professional if not very thorough.  I hope I never have to come back.

Now that's a scary story. 

JDHgroup has reached 10 years in business.  We started all this in a garage and now fill more than 65,000 square feet of building.  The growth truly has been tremendous.  We owe our success to the fiercely loyal clients and friends that we have made along the way.  Our clients have stood by us through thick and thin and we truly have appreciated the work that we have produced together.

This company would not be were it is without the unfailing support of the many companies and individuals that we have worked with over the years.

JDHgroup views every client as a creative and strategic partner.  This process begins with thorough communication between our team the client.  We review and analyze the client’s goals and needs.  It continues with constant collaboration as designs take shape.  And it ends with amazing visuals and innovative ideas that define solid marketing strategies - and makes strong emotional connections at every encounter.

Thank you to some of the amazing clients that we have been privileged to work with.