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Artwork for Making the Museum

Making the Museum

Jonathan Alger
Exhibition Design
Flourishing
Museums
Community Engagement
Museum Planning
Museum Exhibition Design
Conservation-Grade Display Cases
Big Data
Thick Data
Microclimates
Museum Exhibitions
Collaboration
Visitor Experience
Museum Projects
Positive Psychology
Air Exchange Rates
Architecture
Museum Visitor Experience
Museum Data Analytics
Growth Mindset

A podcast on exhibition planning and design for museum leaders, exhibition teams, and visitor experience professionals.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes71Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Non-ProfitArtsBusinessDesign

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Artwork for Making the Museum

Latest Episodes

Can AI be trusted to translate all our museum catalogs, artwork labels, and gallery guides well, by itself? (Hint: Nope. And we’ll find out why.)

Can a machine capture what an artist really meant? What happens when a technically correct translation ... more

Why can’t we just ask our visitors what they want?

Why bother evaluating our design ideas? Which type of evaluation is the biggest bang for your buck? Why is “timing and tracking” a great way to find out if your exhibition works? What is the “button... more

[ASTC 2026 Special] Science changes fast. How can science museums keep up?

What’s a “technology toolkit”? Can one interactive turn into another? Can you do that same trick with a whole room? What about a whole exhibition? What’s “Wizard of Oz-ing”? ... more

A very special episode of Making the Museum, for the 25th Anniversary of 9/11.

The unique, unforgettable story of the architect who found himself on the 9/11 debris pile right after the tragedy, working for years to save artifacts for a museum he c... more

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Recent Guests

Jessica Sickler
Evaluator and researcher; founder of J. Sickler Consulting
J. Sickler Consulting
Episode: Testing the Right Thing at the Right Time, with Jessica Sickler
Mike Horvath
Vice President of Exhibits at the Boston Museum of Science
Boston Museum of Science
Episode: Innovation Secrets of the Museum of Science, with Mike Horvath
Mark Wagner
Architect involved with the 9-11 Memorial & Museum project
Davis Brody Bond, later Stantec
Episode: The 9/11 Museum, 25 Years After 9/11, with Mark Wagner
Ryan Auster
Manager of Learning Metrics, Project Director of Coves
Museum of Science, Boston
Episode: Improving the Visitor Experience with Data, with Ryan Auster
Renée Hampton
Strategic Partnerships Manager
Electrosonic
Episode: What Museums Can Learn from Casinos, Theme Parks, Sports, and More, with Renée Hampton
Femke Bijlsma
Partner at Kossmandejong, exhibition designer focused on content and narrative spaces
Kossmandejong
Episode: Make Space for Change (The New Book), with Femke Bijlsma
Dan Clevenger
Lead of the cultural practice at DLR Group
DLR Group
Episode: Liminal Space Research, with Dan Clevenger, Monika Smith, and Helen Ho
Monika Smith
Architect and museum designer
DLR Group
Episode: Liminal Space Research, with Dan Clevenger, Monika Smith, and Helen Ho
Helen Ho
Design research leader
DLR Group
Episode: Liminal Space Research, with Dan Clevenger, Monika Smith, and Helen Ho

Host

Jonathan Alger
Lead host with multidisciplinary background in exhibition strategy and experience design

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 74 ratings
  • Essential Listening

    A great way to keep up to date with the latest developments in museum exhibition design.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OneAmongSeven
    United Statesa year ago
  • Thoroughly engaging

    You don’t have to be an expert on museum spaces to enjoy this absorbing and witty show. Jonathan Alger starts out with well-chosen guests, then guides them through an hour or so of edifying conversation that will resonate with—and likely inspire—anyone who has ever taken on a substantial creative challenge.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FrankieTheDog
    United States3 years ago
  • Revelations

    As someone new to the museum space, coming from a graphic design background, this podcast has been absolutely invaluable to me. Jonathan is an excellent host. Cordial and uplifting, delightfully humorous, and amazingly attentive. It’s clear he has an abundance of experience, but utilizes it in a measured and instinctive way so that he’s never stealing the show, but always bringing the best out of his guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cookie Markster
    United States3 years ago
  • A conversation for our people

    Jonathan’s MTM podcast is both enjoyable and educational. He works very hard to understand not just what his impressive list of guests do in their work, but what they do it. Keep up the good job!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    California1976
    United States3 years ago
  • How and Why

    Really salient info so far for anyone looking to establish museum-like experiences that mix the physical and virtual. Offered in a structure that designers like myself can easily communicate to the stakeholders and sponsors I need to win over.

    Also very entertaining! Look forward to future guests!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SeanDesigns
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host keeps the tone engaging, insightful, and accessible for both newcomers and pros.
Guest lineup feels diverse across architecture, design, and museum leadership.
Thoughtful, design-forward conversations that translate complex ideas into practical guidance.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Innovation Secrets of the Museum of Science, with Mike Horvath
Q: Could you explain the FAST Table and why a projected-surface, non-touch interface was chosen over a touch table?
The FAST Table is a modular, projection-based table that uses object placement and environmental cues to deliver interactive learning, combining tangible elements with a projection to create an engaging, low-friction learning surface that remains adaptable and reconfigurable.
Innovation Secrets of the Museum of Science, with Mike Horvath
Q: How does the museum keep pace with rapidly changing science, and what frameworks help you scale those efforts?
The interview outlines a dual problem: sourcing new content and ensuring it reflects the latest science, balanced by research-driven workflows, iterative design, and the Transformative Technology Toolbox—an asset-based approach using reusable, modular components to accelerate development.
Innovation Secrets of the Museum of Science, with Mike Horvath
Q: What sparked your entry into the museum exhibits field, and how did your path develop at the Boston Museum of Science?
Horvath describes starting as an intern in design, progressing through graphics, 3D design, and experiential design, and eventually leading to a long tenure that included major traveling exhibitions such as Star Wars and Science Behind Pixar, built through collaboration with Lucasfilm and Pixar.
The 9/11 Museum, 25 Years After 9/11, with Mark Wagner
Q: Could you tell our listeners who you are and what you do?
I'm an architect in New York City with a long focus on the arts and culture sector, particularly museums, and I've recently been working within Stantec after an acquisition of my previous firm. My work evolved from design for large public spaces to shaping museum experiences and preserving memory through artifacts and site-conscious design.
Liminal Space Research, with Dan Clevenger, Monika Smith, and Helen Ho
Q: How does research work in this project?
The process starts with a broad, exploratory question about the role and impact of liminal spaces, then selects mixed methods (movement mapping, focus groups, intercept interviews) to triangulate data and derive actionable design insights.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Making the Museum

What is Making the Museum about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show consistently explores how museums can rethink visitor experiences through design, technology, and collaborative practices. Episodes highlight cross-disciplinary approaches, from immersive storytelling and experiential technology to inclusive design, sustainable exhibition practices, and strategic budgeting for major projects. Guests range from leading architecture firms and design studios to museum leaders and practitioners, often emphasizing community involvement, audience engagement, and practical guidance for implementing ambitious projects. A standout aspect is the mix of hands-on case studies, book discussions, and methodological rigor, which helps listeners translate theory into actionable strategies for planning, branding, a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Making the Museum?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Making the Museum:

1. The Art Angle
2. The Week in Art
3. Fresh Air
4. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
5. On the Media

How many episodes of Making the Museum are there?

Making the Museum launched 4 years ago and published 71 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Making the Museum?

Recent guests on Making the Museum include:

1. Jessica Sickler
2. Mike Horvath
3. Mark Wagner
4. Ryan Auster
5. Renée Hampton
6. Femke Bijlsma
7. Dan Clevenger
8. Monika Smith

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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