why BKD? - SERVICES WE PROVIDE - RATES

WHY BKD?

We love to work with passionate people in museums, theater, and other creative industries. Our collaborations are all about communication, quality, and solutions that work for you.

BrownKnows Design brings a proven track record of creating immersive and highly durable exhibits for discovery centers, history centers, and children’s museums, as well as theater production designs. Having worked in the design industry since 1997, we deliver exceptional customer service and hands-on support to clients through all stages of the design process. We combine imaginative design with an understanding of the needs of visitors, honed through a professional and personal curiosity that has us regularly visiting museums throughout the country and the world, to keep a fresh perspective on current trends, practices, and creative approaches.

As a small company, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional customer service. We are a streamlined and cost-efficient team with the ability to work to the needs of varying budgets and project scopes. We are also uniquely positioned to work with your staff through all potential project phases, including design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance support after the project is complete.

SERVICES

  • Whether or not your organization has taken part in a broader strategic planning process, BKD thrives on creating customized & engaging exhibits that make the most of your space and budget! Whether you need one exhibit or a complete gallery overhaul, our design services can include: a Conceptual Design that “paints a picture” of the anticipated look and feel of the visitor experience, 3D Renderings that help in visualizing individual exhibits and traffic flow between areas, detailed Schematic Designs that clarify dimensions of each component, materials to be used, and/or text for signage and interactives, as well as a style guide (color palette & typography for all graphics). Some sample renderings and drafting projects.

  • We don’t just design it; BKD will be right with you throughout the fabrication and installation process! Our experienced carpenters and painters will take the utmost care with every part of your special project, and the project manager maintains the lines of communication — critical for keeping BKD staff, building contractors, and organization staff all on the same page and helping to prevent conflicts and costly delays or interruptions. Exhibit fabrication portfolio.

  • With multiple trained theatrical scenic designers among us, our staff has designed and/or constructed scenery for a combined total of nearly 400 plays and musicals! Scenic design incorporates a unique combination of knowledge and skills in three-dimensional environments, color, textures, history, architecture, construction techniques and materials, and physics. Check out our some of our scenic design highlights and consider contracting BKD for your next production.

  • Theatrical lighting design not only illuminates the actors but also contours the scenery, enhances the mood, and even helps to tell the story of each production. With more than 160 lighting designs under our belts, BKD staff has amassed knowledge and experience that also translates into effective exhibit lighting design and familiarity with a wide range of lighting equipment. Enjoy a sample of theatrical lighting designs.

  • With decades of work in theatrical and exhibit design, we’ve encountered our share of challenges and unique situations! We’re happy to share that expertise in a consultative capacity, to help keep your project moving in the right direction. Free 30-minute initial consultation; reasonable hourly rates for additional research, meetings, site visits, etc. Get the conversation started.

  • Strategic planning can be the most important step to ensure that your exhibits — and your entire facility — are cohesive, inspiring, and visitor-driven. We engage in the discovery process, together with your staff, to understand your organization’s mission, vision, values, target audiences, desired impacts, and measures of success.

    A Museum Experience Questionnaire helps us begin to get to know the goals and dreams for your facility and your exhibits.

    For many organizations, we recommend development of a comprehensive Strategic Master Plan or Interpretive Plan. This type of document allows us to collaboratively explore your overall Strategic Position, Learning Objectives, Learning Experience Framework, an Exhibit Experience Conceptual Plan (with exhibit themes and descriptions), and even a draft ground plan. It ensures a cohesive vision for all current and future stages of development and can be a beneficial tool to present to stakeholders and potential donors, to build confidence and clarity for the project, both at the current stage and ongoing. The standard Strategic Master Plan process includes the services of our development partner to participate in the initial site visit and brainstorming discussions and to develop the text of the plan. Let’s talk about your options.

RATES

Service Rates

Meetings: $50.00 per hour: in-person/phone/virtual

Design: $92.50 per hour: design research, CAD ground plans, exhibit components, etc.

Drafting: $62.50 per hour: technical/construction drawings

Fabrication/Shop: $85.00 per hour: sourcing materials, fabricating, load-in/load-out, installation

Model building: $2500 flat fee: assumes development work is completed; includes two rounds of alterations

Travel-Related Rates

Hourly travel: $30.00 per hour

Mileage: $0.67 per mile (current standard gov’t rate)

Meals/Incidentals: $59-79.00 per full day (current standard gov’t rate by city)

Lodging (self-booked): $150.00 per night

Full day rate: $500.00 (i.e. site visits, design charettes*)

*includes up to 8 hours of combined travel time/meeting time, plus any additional travel costs if within 50 miles (one-way) from Duluth; otherwise mileage will be additional at the current IRS business mileage rate for additional miles beyond 50.

Exhibit Design & Fabrication Estimates

Every exhibit project is unique and will be budgeted with careful consideration to the given circumstances and specific expectations of the project; however, here are a few general guidelines that can help establish some expected costs:

  • On average, overall exhibit costs (inclusive of the planning process, design, fabrication, and installation) will range from $150-500 per square foot of exhibit space, depending on the amount of digital or A/V technology utilized in the exhibits and the choice of materials (i.e. a 2000 sq. ft. exhibit/museum will likely cost a minimum of $300,000).

  • The planning and design phases of an exhibit project will comprise approximately 25% of that complete budget. For the example above, that means that roughly $75,000 will take the project through the stages of Experience Framework development, Conceptual Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, and Final Design. These phases result in detailed floor plans, color 3D CAD drawings of the complete exhibit space and of each exhibit component, specifications for materials/finishes, any necessary text writing and graphic design, and a detailed fabrication and installation timeline and budget. These planning documents and visuals are valuable tools for the fundraising efforts, sponsorship requests, and grant applications that may be undertaken to raise capital for the exhibit fabrication and installation phases.

LAST UPDATED: January 1, 2025. Rates are valid for at least 4 months after update but are subject to semi-annual review and adjustment.