At the 2000 ASTC Annual Conference in Cleveland, I was fortunate to speak on a panel about Exhibit Prototyping chaired by Patrick Tevlin of the Ontario Science Centre.

Part of my talk dealt with how to use the word ELVIS as a mnemonic (memory aid) for exhibit developers when they are developing prototypes.

The meaning of each of the letters in ELVIS follows below:

E = Everyday Materials
Using everyday materials makes it easier to prototype AND maintain exhibits.

L = Looseness
Providing open-ended opportunities during exhibit development and for the visitors.

V = Vermicious
The word means "wormy." Good exhibits and prototypes should "worm around" on many different levels: old/young, art/science.

I = Interesting
Two things: 1) Great exhibits/prototypes always seem interesting, no matter how many times you've seen them. 2) If it's not interesting to you, how can you expect your visitors to be interested?

S = Sharing
We should be sharing ideas with our visitors, and each other as professionals.
 

In the truth is stranger than fiction department, there was a real live Elvis

impersonator at tiny Long Island Islip airport when I was flying to Cleveland !