Project Goal

Harry's Big Adventure: My Bug World! was developed as a traveling educational exhibition designed to introduce children and families to the world of insects through immersive environments, interactive experiences, live specimens, and hands-on learning opportunities.

Created for Terminix, the exhibition sought to shift public perception of insects from household pests to essential contributors within larger ecosystems. Through a combination of storytelling, science education, and experiential learning, visitors were encouraged to explore the habitats, behaviors, and ecological roles of insects and arthropods.

The project required translating a corporate educational initiative into a fully realized traveling museum experience capable of engaging diverse audiences while meeting operational requirements for touring venues.

Context

The exhibition expanded upon the popularity of Harry, a Chinese praying mantis originally associated with educational programming developed by Terminix and the Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans. The character had previously appeared in educational outreach initiatives and touring programs before becoming the centerpiece of a large-scale interactive exhibition experience.

The exhibition featured multiple habitat environments—including cropland, forest, meadow, swamp, and residential settings—allowing visitors to examine how insects interact with different ecosystems and influence human life. Additional experiences included live insect displays, educational media, games, cockroach races, insect-related demonstrations, and family-focused programming.

As a traveling exhibition, the project required balancing educational objectives, visitor engagement, operational flexibility, transportation requirements, fabrication constraints, and long-term durability.

Leadership and Project Management

As Exhibition Designer and Project Manager working through Good Show LLC, I led the project from design development through fabrication and exhibition delivery.

Key responsibilities included:

• Developed exhibition layouts, visitor flow strategies, and interpretive environments.

• Managed project schedules, milestones, and deliverables across multiple stakeholders.

• Directed design development for exhibit environments, interactive experiences, and branded educational components.

• Produced exhibition design documentation and technical drawing packages.

• Managed scope, schedule, and budget considerations throughout project development.

• Supported installation planning and touring requirements for future host venues.

Project Delivery

Initiation

Established project goals, audience objectives, interpretive themes, and operational requirements in collaboration with Terminix and Good Show LLC.

Defined exhibition parameters including touring requirements, visitor experience goals, educational content integration, and fabrication considerations.

Planning

Developed exhibition concepts, space plans, and interpretive frameworks.

Coordinated project schedules, design reviews, consultant input, and fabrication requirements.

Established workflows for content development, exhibit production, and installation.

Execution

Led exhibition design development across multiple exhibit zones and immersive environments.

Produced technical documentation necessary for fabrication and installation.

Coordinated fabrication partners and specialty vendors responsible for exhibit components, graphics, media integration, and interactive elements.

Monitoring and Control

Tracked project milestones and deliverables throughout design and fabrication.

Managed revisions resulting from client feedback, technical constraints, and budget considerations.

Maintained alignment among educational goals, visitor experience objectives, and production requirements.

Closeout

Coordinated final fabrication review, installation planning, and exhibition delivery.

Supported successful exhibition launch at the Children's Museum of Memphis and preparation for subsequent touring venues.

Verified implementation of exhibition elements in accordance with approved design intent and project requirements.

Outcomes

Harry's Big Adventure: My Bug World! successfully launched at the Children's Museum of Memphis before touring science centers and children's museums throughout the United States. The exhibition remained part of Terminix's broader educational platform for insect and ecosystem education and ultimately contributed to curriculum initiatives, classroom programming, and educational outreach efforts.

The project demonstrated the effectiveness of combining immersive exhibition design, hands-on learning, and branded storytelling to create engaging educational experiences for family audiences.

The successful delivery of a complex traveling exhibition reinforced the importance of coordinated project management, interdisciplinary collaboration, and design leadership in creating museum-quality experiences capable of reaching audiences across multiple venues.

Reflection

Harry's Big Adventure illustrates how exhibition design can transform technical subject matter into meaningful public experiences.

Although visitors encountered an engaging and playful environment, the project required extensive coordination among designers, educators, fabricators, scientists, and client representatives. Success depended on balancing interpretive goals, operational requirements, visitor engagement, and production realities within a compressed project schedule.

This project continues to inform my approach to exhibition production today. Whether working with artists, curators, educators, or institutional stakeholders, successful exhibitions emerge through a combination of creative vision, disciplined project management, and careful coordination from concept through installation.