The Design Partnership

The Design Partnership takes place during the second semester. Students partner with real clients for real projects for the entire semester. Students learn how to design for, present and interact with various client types across the Exhibition & Experience Design Industry. Projects and sponsoring companies are chosen for diversity and breadth giving students real world experiences working with a variety of clients and projects. Students conclude the second semester with professional design documentation for least three real world projects!

Check out our projects here.

Past Design Partnership Projects have included:

Rubin Museum of Art
As part of their Exhibition Design for the Museum Setting course, the students collaborated with the Rubin Museum of Art in New York. Set within the framework of an actual exhibition project, students completed a professional level museum exhibition concept development document. The project that the students worked on was based on the Tibetan Wheel of Life. The students had to take into account the Museum’s transitioning into a global museum model with the goal of bringing greater awareness and understanding of Himalayan art to more people around the world. The students also had to consider connecting traveling exhibit experiences to the online experiences and making the traveling components resilient. 

Gotham Park
During one of their spring semesters, the students collaborated with Gotham Park in New York as part of their Exhibition Graphics I course. The objective of this project was to introduce students to graphic fundamentals through branding, wayfinding and placemaking design through the proposal of an interpretive graphic historical tour using the "Gotham Park Gems" historical locations and stories.

Pinnacle and Epic Games
For one of their spring semester sponsored projects, students collaborated with Pinnacle, an experiential marketing agency, on a student project in experiential design. To encourage diversity and inclusion in esports, Epic Games was piloting a collegiate outreach program to promote Fortnite and Unreal Engine to students and prospective students underrepresented in the gaming industry. Students designed a pop-up exhibition for deployment to job fairs, gaming tournaments, and student events at college campuses, including HBCUs (Historically Black College Universities) and Seven Sisters campuses. The project also included pre and post audience engagement. 

Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI)
Students collaborated with the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) in Queens, NY on a project in experiential graphic design. The objective of this project was to introduce students to graphic wayfinding and placemaking design through the proposal of concepts for wayfinding and related components at MoMI. First, students documented the types of existing graphics, conducted audience and circulation studies, then created signage/wayfinding/placemaking design package for wayfinding from the subway to the exterior entry, through the ticketing experience and particular interior wayfinding paths including code required graphics. The semester concluded with each student creating and presenting to the MoMI team a full Design Concept and Design Development set, including specifications and design build drawings.

Deckel & Moneypenny
Read more about the project here!
This student project—branded experiences with the GE Appliances—House of Brands was done in partnership with the exhibit and experience design company Deckel & Moneypenny from Louisville, KY. The objective of this project was to take the students through the steps involved in creating a branded experiential pop-up space. Through brand identity, research, sketching, selection of materials, drafting, digital media, prototyping and fabrication, students needed to clearly connect Deckel & Moneypenny’s values to those of one of the six brands they chose. The final sustainable pop-up shop design had to highlight the brand’s identity and values, while simultaneously offering a learning moment within the immersive and informative space based on thorough research on selected brand’s ideology and clever materials. The final designs were presented to the Deckel & Moneypenny team. 

National Justice Museum
This partnership project with the National Justice Museum from Nottingham, United Kingdom was set within the framework of an actual exhibition project. Students completed a professional level museum exhibition concept development document. They worked directly with the National Justice Museum’s project team. The project was a photography exhibition with a narrative designed in space and project lab. Through this project, students learned the project phases, as well as how to work with actual briefs and resources, and interact with various constituencies from the museum towards producing authentic design and presentations. The project also included an element of public engagement “on the streets” with a focus on ‘hope’ for change to the systems in the UK. The project was concluded by the students' presentations to the National Jusice Museum team. 

The Society for Experiential Design (SEGD)
The objective of this partnership project with the SEGD was to introduce students to graphic wayfinding and placemaking design, circulation, audience, theory, materials, and how to produce professional level documentation through the proposal of concepts for placemaking/wayfinding and related components. The students’s task was to design a pathway to the entry of the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia through Dilworth Park. This project was also intended to introduce the general public to what experiential graphic design is. The SEGD’s representatives selected the three strongest conceptual designs to be presented at the SEGD’s annual conference in Philadelphia, and remain in place for three months.

Tapestry
For this project, the students partnered with Tapestry, an American multi-brand parent company, to design an experiential retail pop up. The objective of this project was to familiarize the students with the phases of creating a branded experiential pop up. The students could choose to create a design for one of the three brands: Patagonia, Allbirds, and Estée Lauder. Through brand identity research, competitive research, sketching, selection of materials, drafting, digital media, prototyping and fabrication, students connected Tapestry’s sustainability values to those of the brand they chose. At the end of the project, the students presented their designs to a representative of Tapestry and other retail designers.

The Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities
Students partnered with the The Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities from Stockholm, Sweden to design an exhibition with the SUPERFOODS for the Egyptian ethnobotanical collection. This project was part of their Exhibition Design for Museum Setting course.  The objective of this project was for the students to work with the Museum client and execute a professional level exhibition design concept document, learning the phases, working with briefs and resources, and interacting with various constituencies from the Museum towards producing authentic design phase deliverables and presentations. The final designs were presented to The Mediterranean Museum representatives.

New York Aquarium, Wildlife Conservation Society
Read more about the project here! 
As a part of their Exhibition Design Graphics II course in the second semester, the students collaborated with the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium in Coney Island. The objective of the project was to introduce students to experiential graphic design. The first step was to document the existing site and analyze the audience and client's needs. This was followed by creating visitor experience and prototyping. The final step was the presentation of the concept and design development packages to the client. 

Procédés Chénel International at Euroshop 2020 
Students engaged in strategic planning and design development for an exhibit experience to advance brand recognition, visitor flow and create a memorable experience for Procédés Chénel International at Euroshop 2020. The design solutions included lighting design, print and digital media design, as well as interactive opportunities for the visitors to learn and engage in activities that enhance the visitor experience. Students were responsible for adhering to all rules and requirements of a tradeshow venue, developed by the professor in collaboration with Procédés Chénel International. Students obtained a working knowledge of logistics, budget allocations and installation within an international tradeshow venue.

American Museum of Natural History
Read more about the project here!  
Students worked throughout the semester with AMNH designers and staff conceptualizing and designing experiential graphic wayfinding and placemaking solutions to introduce visitors to the AMNH Central Park West rotunda entry and stairwell which spans from the lower level to the fourth floor. The design solutions were based on the institutions mission, audience and goals. Students created and presented to AMNH throughout the semester showing large scale experiential graphics animating the entry and stairwell while guiding circulation to help visitors navigate through all four levels of this grand and iconic institution.

Gallagher & Associates and Fossil Park 
The objective of this project was to prepare students to conceptually design an exhibition experience. Working with the design firm, Gallagher & Associates, students ideated exhibition design concepts for a dinosaur fossil exhibition on the actual dig site at the Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park. The subject of this project enabled students to explore and understand how exhibitions are developed and physically interpreted for visitors within an unique exhibition environment. 

National Museum of the American Indian
The Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian opened its design division to the students of Exhibition & Experience Design for a major exhibition project. The design of the institution’s changing gallery space located at the NYC Customs House, had students researching, developing, curating and designing exhibitions related to the ocean and river-based native and First Nations cultures. This untapped area of content had students examining how to bring these cultures—spanning the entirety of the Western hemisphere to audiences that at present might be unaware of aboriginal histories and their presence in the contemporary world.

Six Flags with Exploring Inc.
Each student designed an experience for haunted house in the Six Flags theme park in Dallas, TX.  The experience takes place in Gotham City home to the Marvel comic Batman & Robin. The students were able to interpret the comic series and either bring it into the future or focus on the historic comic venue as a backdrop for the location. The project was an ideal one to try out some new VR technology and combine it with hands on interactive visitor experiences. Many of the students used the very memorable character actors (Poison Ivy, Two Face, The Penguin) in scripting their visitor experience and design solutions. The students worked directly with the designers and project managers from Exploring Inc.

Bronx Zoo, Wildlife Conservation Society
Students worked with the WCS Creative Directors to study visitor circulation and requirements to navigate the Bronx Zoo as well as branding and identification opportunities. They conducted a site survey and designed full graphic wayfinding and placemaking solutions for the entry experience as well as proposals for on-site WCS contribution kiosks. WCS requested that the students create solutions that promote awareness of the research and work that the WCS conducts as well as solve difficult circulation and wayfinding issues they face at the main entry. Throughout the semester students have conducted detailed site surveys and created, tested and evaluated prototypes on site with the Client.

Intrepid Air and Space Museum
Students worked with the Director of Exhibits, Director of Visitor Experience and Senior Designers to design an exhibition for the Apollo 11 anniversary.

Liberty Science Center
Students worked with the Director of Exhibits and Senior Designers to study visitor circulation and requirements to navigate the Science Center. They conducted a site survey and designed full graphic wayfinding and placemaking packages. Design Communications Ltd. (DCL) also worked with each of the students supplying fabrication and specification direction.

MG Design
Students worked with the Director of Creative and Senior Designers to design Spaced-Out a Space Adventure Experience that debuts at the VacaLUX 2017 luxury travel consumer show in Las Vegas.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum
Students worked with the Director of Exhibits and Senior Designers to reinterpret and design exhibits for the institution’s permanent collections.

Kingsmen Creatives Ltd in Singapore
Students worked with the Director of Creative to design a science, culture and industry pavilion for the PanAsia World Exposition.

Queens Zoo, Wildlife Conservation Society
Students worked with the Director of Creative, Interpretive Specialists and Educators to design a complete interpretive signage and wayfinding design for the Queens Zoo.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame
Students were given the opportunity to design for a very specialized type of museum. Working with the Executive Director, students designed the institution's signature exhibition on two floors including the crafting of a new narrative experience. Attention was paid to the particular types of audiences that attend and the Hall of Fame's specialty collection.

Euroshop Tradefair
Leslie Ann Chiu wins the EDPA exclusive exhibit booth design competition. The Graduate Exhibition Design Department was engaged by the Exhibit Designers and Producers Association to design their exhibit for the Euroshop Convention in Düsseldorf, Germany. Leslie's design will be produced incorporating products from Octanorm and Fabric Images Inc. Leslie will travel to Germany to be presented to the design community accompanying her booth.

National Museum of the American Indian
Working with the Museum's Director of Exhibitions, Senior Exhibition Designer, and a representative from the National Park Service's Division of Exhibitions, students designed a signage and wayfinding program particular to the landmarked museum building. Deriving information from the Smithsonian Institution's graphic standard, the museums audience studies and exhibitions, students generated a system that would work to seamlessly integrate the needs of a directional experience within the decorative building.

Central Park Zoo, Wildlife Conservation Society
Students worked with the Zoo's Director of Visitor Services and Senior Designers in the completion of a signage and wayfinding project for the site. Particular emphasis was placed on understanding the nature of the visitor experience and creating a system that was implicit. Using the Zoo's mission, audience studies, graphics standards and plans, students generated a signage system that is a narrative experience, serving practical needs while supporting the very particular wayfinding needs of this unique site. Partnering on this special assignment was Precision Signs, providing the students with signage fabrication information so that production was a consideration from very the very onset.

Smithsonian National Museum of American History
As part of their Museums and Permanent Exhibition course, the students have created a project for a permanent exhibition space at the newly renovated museum in Washington DC. The entire class was invited to spend two days at the museum visiting with the Executive Director, Senior Exhibition Designer and Chief Architect for the building's renovation. Students went on a hard hat tour, received all of the specifications for their project, were given the audience and collections information, and then were sent off to generate original exhibition concepts for what they deem to be the milestones of American history.

The New York Botanic Garden
The students completed a graphics signage and wayfinding design competition for the Garden. They received an extensive tour and introduction to the site by the Director of Exhibitions, Manager of Visual Media, Associate Vice President for Children's and Public Education, and the Director of Visitor Services. As part of their Exhibition Graphic Design course, students completed extensive designs from which three were chosen as the strongest.

Procedes Chenel
The Paris-based exhibition paper design firm sponsors a FIT exclusive annual competition in showroom design to feature their specialty products. As part of their Exhibition Presentation Techniques course, students were introduced to the firm, its products, and the specifications for creating an actual design product. The winning design will send a student to Paris for an introduction to the firm's facility, tours of other exhibition firms and local museums and cultural sites. The student will then engage in the production process for the showroom they created.

Derse
Directed by Vice President, Creative, Derse, Inc, Russ Fowler in conjunction with the Presentation Techniques class, students were introduced to this top corporate exhibit design firm and were engaged in the creation of original expo designs for several clients including Moen, Earthbound Farms, and Amtrak. In these trade show projects, the students used authentic show specifications, audience studies, brand parameters and mission and visitor statements to create state-of-the-art designs.