When it was clear that the Grand Forks Children’s Museum was moving from concept to reality, the board of directors looked to find the best children’s museum exhibit designers. We visited numerous children’s museums around the country and found that one name stood out among all – Toboggan Design, Inc, and that’s who we hired to plan and create our museum’s exhibits.
Our Toboggan team includes Kurt Hibchen and Laurent Carrier. Kurt and Laurent visited Grand Forks this past week to update the exhibit committee on their ideas and designs, and to attend the Tom Brosseau and Friends concert. It was also important to Kurt and Laurent to visit Grand Forks and get a sense of our community. While this wasn’t their first visit, on this trip they had the opportunity to meet with many members of the community, see some of Grand Forks’ surrounding areas and get a good feel for the region.
Regional context is important as each area has its own unique history, culture, geographic features, and environment. By immersing themselves in the local context, Kurt and Laurent were able to gain more insight into the community’s values, traditions, and stories. By understanding the local context, they will create exhibits that will better resonate with children and their families. Ultimately, the exhibits they create will be inspired by the area’s identity.
During his visit, Kurt indulged in a scenic run along the Red River Valley, marveling at the beauty of the cottonwood trees and crossing over into Minnesota. Immersed in nature’s grandeur, he found inspiration in its intricate details, evoking a sense of wonder—a sentiment the museum hopes to instill in its visitors.
Every place has unique narratives and Grand Forks is no exception. Our culture combined with our geographic attributes become compelling content for exhibits. These exhibit experiences will be organized in thematic areas evocative of our landscape: LAND on the first floor and SKY on the second, and a connecting theme of GROW featuring an impressive vertical maze.
Kurt and Laurent’s visit was useful for gathering the raw materials needed for creating our masterpiece. This visit helped to enrich their creative process, fostered community connections, and ensured that the exhibits will resonate with both locals and visitors. Think of this visit as creating the palette of colors, blending hues, tones, and shades to evoke emotions, tell stories, and capture the essence of our creative vision. We are excited to see the exhibits become reality.
By Sally Miskavige, Grand Forks Children's Museum Board Vice President
