Exhibition and Experience Design
Exhibitions are intellectually, emotionally, and physically meaningful experiences driven by visitors. In FIT’s Exhibition and Experience Design Master of Arts degree program, students are explorers and inventors, employing a range of media to tell stories.
Drawing on myriad disciplines, you will explore theory, methods, techniques, and technologies needed to create experiences in any venue—from museums to branded environments to public spaces.
Announcement
Exhibition and Experience Design information sessions will take place on the following dates. Click on a date and time to register for the session.
Program
![students in classroom](/images/eedc-capstone/landing-page-image.jpg)
Experience and Exhibition Design MA
The curriculum, a blend of field and studio work, focuses on designing narrative environments rooted in human psychology. Students explore every type of designed experience, including museums, pop-ups, interactive digital spaces, and scenography, and develop skills in concept development, environmental design, graphics, lighting, and model making. Working closely with industry partners, students embark on real-world projects and studio-based competitions with local and international firms, museums, and public facilities. The program culminates with a thesis project that draws on critical research.
How You’ll Benefit From FIT
![Exhibition and Experience Design Resources](/_resources/assets/img/programs-exhibition-experience-design-resources-student.jpg)
Design Resources
Take advantage of FIT’s emerging tech lab, PrintFX, and the Writing and Speaking Studio.
Sharpen your skills and implement exhibition experiences and narratives with AR/VR,
virtual walkthrough software, animation, and more—while designing projects and engaging
in cutting-edge research with some of the world's leading exhibition and experience
design professionals, institutions, firms and industry leaders in New York City and
across the globe.
![Exhibition and Experience Design Access](/_resources/assets/img/programs-exhibition-experience-design-access.jpg)
Access to Experts and Industry Leaders
Through class presentations, lectures, studio projects, and off-site trips, you’ll gain access to experts in the field, and collaborate with leading industry organizations such as the Exhibition Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) and the Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD). You’ll execute multiple full-scale projects, working with professionals in actual venues through The Design Partnership.
![Exhibition and Experience Design Peers](/_resources/assets/img/programs-exhibition-experience-design-peers.jpg)
Award-Winning Peers
Our students have won national and international competitions sponsored by a variety of institutions
and industry partners such as The Smithsonian Institution, SONY, New York Botanical
Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society, American Museum of Natural History, EuroShop
and more. More about our awards and news coverage.
![](/images/eed-collage-video-still.jpeg)
Our Work
Inform, entertain, and inspire through designed experiences.
![Lyka Williams created a branded temporary retail experience that not only fostered consumer engagement with the brand, but fully immersed customers in their sustainable movement.](/images/eedc-capstone/lyka-1.jpg)
Three FIT Exhibition and Experience Design (EED) students and an alumnus were selected to present their work alongside industry experts at two Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) events.
![Experience and Exhibition Design Madison Square Park](/images/eedc-capstone/avery.jpg)
Avery Zucker's thesis project looks at democratizing the contemporary art museum experience and focuses on identity politics through the lens of self portraiture in five contemporary artists..
![Experience and Exhibition Design New York Aquarium](/images/eedc-capstone/naz-8.jpg)
A colorful pop-up store by Naz Ertugrul promotes the clothing brand that is committed to training the next generation of environmental activists.
![Experience and Exhibition Design Analise Mehmet](/images/eedc-capstone/community-garden-1.jpg)
Perceiving authenticity by co-creation is a project by Changhyun Lee whose target audience are seniors in East Harlem. Chang was selected to present his thesis "Co-creating the Brand" at the 2021 SEGD Academic Summit. Communication + Place, the official research journal of the Experiential Graphic Design community, published his thesis.
![Briyana](/images/eedc-capstone/briyana-4.jpg)
Reclaiming narrative. Briyana Rainer's project is a neighbor-based platform for sharing perspectives centering on bias and conversation between us, the places we live, and the things we see.
![Naz Ertugrul](/images/eedc-capstone/naz-new.jpg)
By introducing a new wayfinding system that has roots touching on inclusivity, accessibility and identity, Dilworth Park in Philadelphia, as imagined by Naz Ertugrul, becomes a space not only for navigation but for conversation, inspiration, and co-creation with and for its visitors. That includes a word hunt to complete phrases of the SEGD manifesto, typography on grass and an interactive projection on Philadelphia’s City Hall, which overlooks Dilworth Park. Naz won first place in the design challenge organized in collaboration with Society for Experiential Design SEGD.
![Jenny Hsin-Yi Chang](/images/eedc-capstone/jenny.jpg)
Jenny Hsin-Yi Chang redesigned the museum entry wayfinding system that will allow visitors easy navigation from the subway stop through the permanent exhibitions inside the museum.
![Shraddha Bedmutha](/images/eedc-capstone/shraddha-1.jpg)
Shraddha Bedmutha's "Mind|Body|Soul - Journey of Self Discovery" exhibition is based on the core idea of finding one’s true self, through mind, body and soul.
![Briyana Rainer](/images/eedc-capstone/briyana-1.jpg)
"Jambalaya" is an exhibit designed by Briyana Rainer that reflects on the mixing and mashing of cultures and versatility of the dish through a series of projections and audio. It allows engagement and participation by creating the space for the participant's contribution.
![Emily Schmidt](/images/eedc-capstone/greening-1.jpg)
"Greening Marble Hill" is a group project by Emily Schmidt, Eve Frudakis, and Naz Ertugrul. This group targeted problems, such as lack of greenery and food insecurity as the ongoing issues in the neighborhood.
![Jaipreet Uppal](/images/eedc-capstone/jai.jpg)
Jaipreet Uppal designed a showroom using luxury brand's appliances and materials.
![Lyka Williams](/images/eedc-capstone/lyka-2.jpg)
"Juvenile in Justice: At What Cost" is a project about incarcerated youth by Lyka Williams.
![Kayla Van Name](/images/eedc-capstone/kayla.jpg)
Kayla Van Name designed a project about oysters, her favorite food.
![Ciera Iveson](/images/eedc-capstone/ciera.jpg)
No two cowgirls are the same, yet together they form an iconic American identity. SELDOM IS HEARD: VOICES OF THE COWGIRL designed by Ciera Iveson reveals the mindset of the Cowgirl, and the forces women battled to blaze their own trail in the American West, and thus create new possibilities for women across the country. Ciera presented her thesis at the 2022 SEGD Academic Summit, and it was also published in Communication + Place, the official research journal of the Experiential Graphic Design community.
![Claudia Tinta](/images/eedc-capstone/claudia.jpg)
Claudia Tinta's vision of a pop-up store for a famous cosmetic brand.
![Zuzanna Zmijewsk](/images/eedc-capstone/zuzanna-zmijewska-student-showcase.jpg)
Mochi as a part of "My Favorite Food" project by Zuzanna Zmijewska.
![Hue Wen Kao](/images/eedc-capstone/prada-hwk.jpg)
Hua Wen Kao EED '22, was selected as one of twenty winners of Prada's 'Action in the Year of the Tiger' global competition! Hua Wen's competition entry called "Restore Balance" is exhibited at Prada Rong Zhai in Shanghai. Read more about Hua Wen's entry.
![Naz Ertugrul](/images/eedc-capstone/naz.jpg)
Naz Ertugrul’s thesis exhibition "Flow" acts as a design stage which alters with each activity to convert the future of female motorsport racing and act as a medium for increased social connection with the individuals and within the setting. Naz was selected to present her thesis at the 2022 SEGD Academic Summit, and have it published in the Communication + Place, the official research journal of the Experiential Graphic Design community.
![Lyka Williams created a branded temporary retail experience that not only fostered consumer engagement with the brand, but fully immersed customers in their sustainable movement.](/images/eedc-capstone/lyka-1.jpg)
![Experience and Exhibition Design Madison Square Park](/images/eedc-capstone/avery.jpg)
![Experience and Exhibition Design New York Aquarium](/images/eedc-capstone/naz-8.jpg)
![Experience and Exhibition Design Analise Mehmet](/images/eedc-capstone/community-garden-1.jpg)
![Briyana](/images/eedc-capstone/briyana-4.jpg)
![Naz Ertugrul](/images/eedc-capstone/naz-new.jpg)
![Jenny Hsin-Yi Chang](/images/eedc-capstone/jenny.jpg)
![Shraddha Bedmutha](/images/eedc-capstone/shraddha-1.jpg)
![Briyana Rainer](/images/eedc-capstone/briyana-1.jpg)
![Emily Schmidt](/images/eedc-capstone/greening-1.jpg)
![Jaipreet Uppal](/images/eedc-capstone/jai.jpg)
![Lyka Williams](/images/eedc-capstone/lyka-2.jpg)
![Kayla Van Name](/images/eedc-capstone/kayla.jpg)
![Ciera Iveson](/images/eedc-capstone/ciera.jpg)
![Claudia Tinta](/images/eedc-capstone/claudia.jpg)
![Zuzanna Zmijewsk](/images/eedc-capstone/zuzanna-zmijewska-student-showcase.jpg)
![Hue Wen Kao](/images/eedc-capstone/prada-hwk.jpg)
![Naz Ertugrul](/images/eedc-capstone/naz.jpg)
Impact
Make an experience that moves … Graduate with the confidence and skills to help shape the creative economy by creating unique and provoking exhibitions.
![Chang Lee](/_resources/assets/img/programs-exhibition-experience-design-testimonial-chang-%20lee.jpeg)
Outside the Classroom
Our curricula, New York City location, and global network of advisors offer exceptional opportunities to forge strong bonds with leaders in the field. EED graduates can benefit from lifelong career services and advisement.
![Experience and Exhibition Design outside the classroom](/_resources/assets/img/programs-exhibition-experience-design-outside-the-classroom.-designers.jpg)
Learn From the Best
Our faculty members include exhibition experience designers, content developers, graphic and lighting designers, and design historians—all with current industry expertise. Meet more Exhibition and Experience Design faculty.
Lyons is an associate professor and the chair of the Exhibition and Experience Design department. She evolves curriculum, supports students and faculty, and facilitates industry partnerships. She was previously the director of the graphic design department at Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership and a senior designer at Poulin + Morris. She has worked on numerous exhibition and experience design projects domestically and globally.
Cowan is a professor of Exhibition and Experience Design, where she supports the ongoing evolution of the MA program’s core curriculum, direction of academic and design instruction, and facilitation of the program’s relationship with the profession.
Contact Us
Exhibition and Experience Design
Christina Lyons
Follow us @fitgradexd