Exhibitions & curation
Designing exhibition labels that use plain language summaries alongside deeper academic commentary for varied audiences.
This article examines how to craft exhibition labels that balance accessible summaries with scholarly analysis, ensuring clarity for general visitors and depth for researchers, educators, and specialists alike.
July 21, 2025 - 3 min Read
Exhibitions often struggle to speak to diverse audiences within a single display. A well-constructed label can bridge accessibility and scholarship by presenting a concise plain language overview alongside targeted scholarly notes. The plain language section should convey the central idea, context, and significance in simple terms, avoiding jargon and dense sentences. The accompanying academic commentary can delve into provenance, theoretical frameworks, and critical debates without overwhelming readers who are new to the subject. The result is a label ecosystem that invites casual observers to engage while inviting seasoned readers to follow the intellectual thread that underpins the work. This approach fosters inclusivity without diluting rigor.
When designing the plain language summary, planners should identify core messages in advance. Start with a clear question or hypothesis that the artwork raises, then distill evidence from the piece into a few accessible sentences. Use concrete nouns, active verbs, and familiar cultural references to anchor meaning. Avoid overloading the viewer with dates, catalog numbers, or disciplinary terms. Instead, connect the artwork to lived experiences, communities, or universal themes like memory, identity, or collaboration. The aim is not to simplify content into a trivial narrative, but to illuminate immediate relevance so visitors know why the work matters in everyday terms before exploring deeper layers. Rhythm and readability matter.
9–11 words that signal interaction between formats and audiences.
Beyond the initial summary, the academic commentary provides a rigorous scaffold for interested readers. This portion should reference relevant scholarship, situate the work within a broader field, and outline methods of interpretation. It is important to balance description with critical analysis, showing how form, materiality, and concept interact. Citations or references can be integrated subtly, guiding readers to further study without interrupting the label’s flow. The prose should feel conversant rather than ascetic, inviting researchers to test ideas while still remaining accessible to a general audience. A well designed commentary sustains curiosity and invites ongoing conversation.
The structure of the deeper commentary can follow a consistent sequence across labels. Begin with a concise situational context for the work, then move to formal analysis, then discuss reception and impact. Consider including a brief note on curatorial decisions, such as how the piece was installed or how voices were selected for inclusion in the exhibition narrative. Finally, highlight open questions or tensions that invite viewers to form their own interpretations. Consistency in tone and layout helps readers move fluidly from plain language to scholarly insight, reinforcing the label’s purpose as a bridge across audiences.
9–11 words that highlight balance between clarity and critique.
The plain language summary should foreground accessibility features that support diverse readers. Use legible typography, high contrast, and succinct sentences to aid comprehension. Incorporate cultural relevance by referencing everyday experiences or widely recognized events that relate to the artwork's themes. When possible, provide optional extended captions or audio guidance to accommodate different learning styles. The goal is to invite participation rather than mere observation, encouraging visitors to articulate their impressions and questions. A thoughtful plain language approach also respects readers who may be new to art discourse, creating a welcoming entry point without sacrificing scholarly integrity.
For the academic commentary, craft a precise yet inviting scholarly frame. Clarify the artwork’s formal aspects—such as composition, color theory, and material choices—and relate them to theoretical conversations within art history or contemporary practice. Explain how the artist’s method influences interpretation, whether through process-driven techniques, collaboration, or site-specific considerations. Discuss critical debates connected to the work’s era, region, or medium, and identify relevant authors or movements. The writing should illuminate complexity while remaining careful not to overwhelm readers with terminology. A well executed commentary makes a case for significance beyond surface aesthetics.
9–11 words that emphasize inclusivity and ongoing interpretation.
A practical challenge in label design is aligning timelines with interpretive depth. Visitors arrive with different knowledge bases, so labels must accommodate curiosity at multiple levels. One useful strategy is to draft parallel sentences: a plain language line followed by a short scholarly clause that expands on the idea. These lines should reference a common thread—such as theme, technique, or context—so readers can trace connections without feeling lost. Clear typography, generous spacing, and logical sequencing of labels contribute to a coherent experience. When executed thoughtfully, this approach reduces confusion and invites sustained attention across the gallery.
Collaboration is essential in producing effective labels. Curators, educators, conservators, and researchers each bring distinct perspectives that enrich both summaries and commentaries. Establish a workflow that aligns goals from the outset, including a shared glossary of terms to minimize jargon. Regular reviews help ensure that plain language remains accurate and inclusive while the scholarly text remains precise and comprehensive. Testing labels with diverse audiences—students, families, and scholars—exposes ambiguities and reveals opportunities for refinement. The final product should feel like a dialogue rather than a monologue, inviting visitors to participate in the interpretive process.
9–11 words that promise continued exploration and dialogue.
Another important consideration is materials and installation context. Labels should reflect how the object's physical properties influence interpretation. Surface texture, scale, lighting, and surrounding architecture can all shape perception, so the academic notes may reference these conditions explicitly. Descriptions should acknowledge variability in viewers’ experiences, recognizing that different hows and whys arise depending on the moment of engagement. When possible, link the artwork to interactive elements or communal activities that deepen understanding. By addressing environmental factors within both plain language and scholarly sections, labels become living components of the viewing experience rather than static artifacts.
A further design principle is ongoing evaluation. Museums and galleries benefit from revisiting labels after initial publication, incorporating feedback from audiences and staff alike. This iterative approach can reveal gaps in explanation, cultural sensitivity concerns, or opportunities to foreground underrepresented voices. Documentation of changes helps maintain transparency and accountability, signaling that the exhibition is evolving with new insights. Updates can be modest—adjusting wording, clarifying references, or adding concise addenda—while preserving the core balance between accessibility and analysis. Sustained reflection strengthens trust with varied readers.
In practice, the labels function as a map through the exhibition’s ideas. The plain language summary acts as a first compass, guiding viewers toward central questions without shutting down inquiry. The academic commentary serves as a secondary compass, pointing toward deeper terrains for those who wish to explore them. Together they create a navigational system that supports autonomy: readers choose how deeply to engage, when to skim, and when to pause for reflection. This dual approach respects time constraints while inviting thoughtful, sustained attention to the artwork’s significance and method. Successful labels empower every visitor to participate in the conversation.
Ultimately, designing labels that blend clarity with critique is a creative discipline. It requires empathy for varied literacy levels, curiosity about disciplinary conversations, and patience to refine language over time. The best labels do more than convey information; they model how to read art critically while remaining welcoming. By foregrounding plain language without sacrificing theoretical rigor, curators ensure that exhibitions connect with broad audiences and with specialized scholars alike. The result is a shared, evolving understanding of art’s meanings, a space where everyday observations and academic inquiry reinforce one another and enrich the public life of culture.
