Museum Exhibition Design Fundamentals

Robert Checchi is Assistant Director of Exhibitions at the Harvard Art Museums where he manages the design and installation teams for the museum. Previously, Checchi was Senior Exhibition Designer and Digital Manager at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, responsible for designing the 100,000 square feet of exhibition space. Prior to joining the Lucas Museum, Checchi was Head of Digital Learning and Innovation at the Fowler Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), responsible for digital engagement online and in-gallery for the Engaging Lived Religion in the Twenty-First Century project under the Lilly Foundation Grant. Checchi is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Southern California's (USC) Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy, focusing on the intersection of design and technology, and has taught design for user experience at USC's Viterbi School of Engineering. Previously, Checchi was Director of Museum and Special Projects at yU+co, a Hollywood-based innovation studio, where he specialized in digital experiential design, augmented reality, visualizations utilizing machine learning, large scale projection mapping, and 3D creative programming for entertainment and education. Before joining yU+co Checchi was an award-winning senior designer at the J. Paul Getty Museum for 12 years. As senior designer, Checchi oversaw both temporary and permanent collection exhibition development, design, fabrication, and installation, including all aspects of exhibition and environmental graphics, spatial design, display furniture, and promotional branding for over 60 exhibitions. From 1993 to 2000, Checchi was the lead exhibition designer and chair of the Signage Department at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum in New York.