In this third edition, Beverly Serrell and Katherine Whitney remind me of what's important and challenge me to do better--with humor, humility, and references to the great work colleagues have done creating and evaluating exhibit interpretation. This book provides inspiration, examples and connections to other museum colleagues and organizations who have navigated similar interpretive labyrinths. I can't imagine working without it by my side and on my team.
Real objects and phenomena are the great differential asset of the museographic language and what gives uniqueness to an exhibition. However, written language --properly used-- is also an essential support for an exhibition with communicative capacity. This new edition consolidates the relevance of a completely essential book in this aspect.
This latest edition of Exhibit Labels serves as the perfect antidote to those who claim, "Nobody reads the labels!" Serrell and Whitney, through wonderful illustrated examples and pithy, actionable tips, inspire everyone who works for, or with, museums to craft labels that everyone will want to read!
This latest edition of Exhibit Labels serves as the perfect antidote to those who claim, “Nobody reads the labels!” Serrell and Whitney, through wonderful illustrated examples and pithy, actionable tips, inspire everyone who works for, or with, museums to craft labels that everyone will want to read!
Real objects and phenomena are the great differential asset of the museographic language and what gives uniqueness to an exhibition. However, written language —properly used— is also an essential support for an exhibition with communicative capacity. This new edition consolidates the relevance of a completely essential book in this aspect.
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.
Journal Of The International Zoo Educators Association - Rosamira Guillen
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.
Journal Of The International Zoo Educators Association - Bipul Chakrabarty
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.'
Curator: The Museum Journal - Bay Hallowell
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.
Journal of Interpretation Research - Kirsten Ellenbogen
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.
Museum News - James Scarborough
Improving a classic seems a contradiction in terms, but Beverly Serrell has done it with this revised edition of Exhibit Labels. Her chapters on audience in particular are informed by the nearly two decades of visitor research published since the first version, providing robust support for her recommendations. And the new and varied case studies offer practical examples of how museums are creating and utilizing contemporary approaches such as multilingual labels and digital interpretive devices.
Previous edition praise: 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.
Journal of Interpretation Research
Do museum visitors even read wall labels anymore? And if they do, how can writers make these short texts engaging and educational at once? Exhibit Labels: An Interpretive Approach takes an optimistic approach to answering these questions, positing that wall text can indeed be effective when well written and smartly designed.. . .Throughout, author Beverly Serrell shares her insights from nearly four decades of providing advice on exhibits for all manner of museums.
Serrell has published her finest work in this second edition of Exhibit Labels. Even the most casual reader will be impressed with: the comprehensive treatment of exhibit labels, the expansive inclusion of literature, and the excellent description of best practices in museum exhibition development. The first edition of Exhibit Labels is still considered the authority on designing labels; this new edition goes well beyond this accomplishment and will no doubt be considered far-and-away the best standard for exhibit label design. Any serious reader will find a plethora of primary source references to explore, an easy-to-read manual for exhibit label development, and an optimistic philosophy that includes the belief that visitors do read labels if they are well designed, and that labels do really make a difference for the visitor experience.
The museum world owes a great debt to Ms. Serrell for her disciplined, passionate advocacy of excellence in exhibit writing.. . .Serrell’s book will always have an honored place on my bookshelf. Like all technical manuals—and this is one of the best I’ve seen—it must be studied and digested, added to the internal toolkit, then forgotten in the joy of crafting sentences that sing, and in the deep satisfaction of finding the right word in the right place, for the right reasons.
This second edition of the long-standing museum classic, Exhibit Labels, is full of great new examples and insights, including more consideration of digital media. Beverly Serrell’s life-long career in museums, focused on improving the quality and experience of museum exhibitions, continues to inspire and enlighten.
Do museum visitors even read wall labels anymore? And if they do, how can writers make these short texts engaging and educational at once? Exhibit Labels: An Interpretive Approach takes an optimistic approach to answering these questions, positing that wall text can indeed be effective when well written and smartly designed.. . .Throughout, author Beverly Serrell shares her insights from nearly four decades of providing advice on exhibits for all manner of museums.
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.
Journal Of The International Zoo Educators Association
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.
Journal Of Interpretation Research
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.'
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.
It is not hard to see why this book has remained popular for almost twenty years. Though lengthy, the author practices what she preaches: text is succinct and relevant; conclusions are evidence-based and often thought-provoking. Following Serrell’s guidelines, museums are capable of creating a multimedia experience for visitors akin to an interactive documentary. Anyone needing to write interpretive labels for an exhibit obviously will find this book immensely valuable, but even educators not involved in museum work might find this an interesting look at other ways of presenting information in a visual, verbal, and engaging way.
