Our process.
Collaboration is key. From initial meeting to final wrap-up, we are driven by our central philosophy of collaboration. The positive interactions between your team and ours create success.
No matter the project, our thorough development process ensures a successful outcome.
Learning
The beginning of our process includes immersing ourselves in your culture and your project. We ask questions and listen to the stories you want to tell. These early discussions help us build a strong foundation on which to create a successful project. We identify and explore your audiences to achieve targeted messages.
Imagining
Our next steps delve into the visualization of the project. Through ideation and creative explorations we create impactful visual approaches that best suit the tone and needs of the project. Through collaborative feedback sessions, we refine our approach until we’ve created the most effective and engaging designs.
Achieving
The final step of the project can look very different between interpretive plans, immersive exhibits, environmental experiences or more traditional marketing. Whatever the end product, the final phases are spent creating detailed plans, refining and polishing designs, and ensuring the execution meets everyone’s expectations.
Our Process
Plan
LET’S GET STARTED
-
Project kick-off and team meetings
-
Engage stakeholders
-
Develop schedules and milestones
-
Understanding the past through research and content outlines
-
Mapping out visitor experiences across the site
-
Develop media needs and wireframes
-
Establish preliminary target budgets
Design
COLLABORATION AND IDEATION
-
Visualize the experiences
-
Plot out locations for all elements
-
Write the stories for objects, signage and media
-
Develop the graphics
-
Document the collections and conservation requirements
-
We talk to each other through every stage
-
Create story boards for media and test concepts
-
Check-in on budgets
Document
REFINEMENT AND DOCUMENTATION
-
Detail drawings for every component
-
Finalize the stories and graphics
-
Interactive media production
-
Finalize the budget and schedule
Implement
MAINTAIN AND TEACH
-
Build and install
-
Create standards document and maintenance manuals
-
Review with staff
-
Engage the public
Implement
MAINTAIN AND TEACH
-
Build and install
-
Create standards document and maintenance manuals
-
Review with staff
-
Engage the public
Document
REFINEMENT AND DOCUMENTATION
-
Detail drawings for every component
-
Finalize the stories and graphics
-
Interactive media production
-
Finalize the budget and schedule
ACHIEVE
Design
COLLABORATION AND IDEATION
-
Visualize the experiences
-
Plot out locations for all elements
-
Write the stories for objects, signage and media
-
Develop the graphics
-
Document the collections and conservation requirements
-
We talk to each other through every stage
-
Create story boards for media and test concepts
-
Check-in on budgets
IMAGINE
Plan
LET’S GET STARTED
-
Project kick-off and team meetings
-
Engage stakeholders
-
Develop schedules and milestones
-
Understanding the past through research and content outlines
-
Mapping out visitor experiences across the site
-
Develop media needs and wireframes
-
Establish preliminary target budgets
LEARN
Our Process
Our Process
No matter the project, our thorough development process ensures a successful outcome.
LEARNING
The beginning of our process includes immersing ourselves in your culture and your project. We ask questions and listen to the stories you want to tell. These early discussions help us build a strong foundation on which to create a successful project. We identify and explore your audiences to achieve targeted messages.
IMAGINING
Our next steps delve into the visualization of the project. Through ideation and creative explorations we create impactful visual approaches that best suit the tone and needs of the project. Through collaborative feedback sessions, we refine our approach until we’ve created the most effective and engaging designs.
ACHIEVING
The final step of the project can look very different between interpretive plans, immersive exhibits, environmental experiences or more traditional marketing. Whatever the end product, the final phases are spent creating detailed plans, refining and polishing designs, and ensuring the execution meets everyone’s expectations.
Our Four Guiding Principles
1
COLLABORATION
We integrate our process with your team. We work together to meet the goals and objectives of the project, as well as fit within your larger institutional goals.
2
CONTENT DRIVEN, RESULTS ORIENTED
Our approach is centered on the stories we want to share and the places we plan to share them. We lay a strong foundation of goals and outcomes to build upon throughout the process.
3
RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP
We apply sustainable principles wherever possible, creating designs that are both environmentally and operationally responsible.
4
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Clear communication is key to effective collaboration. We track, record, and check all directives of the project at regular intervals, ensuring the full team is informed and engaged.
Working together with Gecko on the Elk project wasa highlight of my career. You guys are fantastic. I just wish we could have had you on board duringthe planning phase."
Jean Devlin
Chief, Environmental Education and Interpretive Section,
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
During my 20 year working relationship, Gecko Group has always done a great job presenting and communicating complex ideas as easy to understand concepts. Their creative approach has allowed us to meet budget without sacrificing quality or value. Our collaborative efforts have resulted in multiple awards including two AZA Exhibit of the Year Awards. As a Gecko Group advocate, I would recommend their team and expertise..."
Karl R. Kranz
Executive Vice President for Animal Programs/COO,
The Maryland Zoo In Baltimore
Having worked with Gecko Group, there is no finer firm to work with. We retained Gecko Group knowing that the standards and goals that were set would be met and matched well."
Peter Siebert
Executive Director,
Independence Seaport Museum
I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but I just wanted to reiterate how thrilled everyone here is with the exhibition. I was so impressed with how much you all were able to do with such a short timeline and, let's face it, a smaller budget than we all would have liked. You found creative solutions to difficult designs problems, you created clean, clear, persuasive written content, you turned around deliverables super quickly, and you all exhibited superhuman patience throughout this entire process. THANK YOU!! I really hope we'll have the opportunity to work together again soon.”
Michael Keys
Exhibition Manager,
The Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia
I knew Allie was a rockstar, and now I’m adding you to the list too, Kathy– and the whole team who helped to create this powerful and dynamic exhibition for our audiences. I realize the timeline was not perfect, and communication not streamlined, but I wanted to thank you for all of your work on this project. This was one of the first fully collaborative exhibitions that team has managed, and it could not have been done without you. Thank you for helping them to understand the process of creating an interpretive exhibition with excellent designs. Your work on this project will help the team more than you know. I hope you have had a chance to celebrate you; you deserve it! I hope we will work together in the future! Congratulations!!
Kate Quinn, MFA
Executive Director,
William Maul Measey Chair for the History of Medicine
Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library
“Working together with Gecko on the Elk project was a highlight of my career. You guys are fantastic. I just wish we could have had you on board duringthe planning phase."
Jean Devlin
Chief, Environmental Education and Interpretive Section,
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
“During my 20 year working relationship, Gecko Group has always done a great job presenting and communicating complex ideas as easy to understand concepts. Their creative approach has allowed us to meet budget without sacrificing quality or value. Our collaborative efforts have resulted in multiple awards including two AZA Exhibit of the Year Awards. As a Gecko Group advocate, I would recommend their team and expertise..."
Karl R. Kranz
Executive Vice President for Animal Programs/COO,
The Maryland Zoo In BaltimoreDepartment of Conservation and Natural Resources
“Having worked with Gecko Group, there is no finer firm to work with. We retained Gecko Group knowing that the standards and goals that were set would be met and matched well."
Peter Siebert
Executive Director,
Independence Seaport Museum
“I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but I just wanted to reiterate how thrilled everyone here is with the exhibition. You found creative solutions to difficult designs problems, you created clean, clear, persuasive written content, you turned around deliverables super quickly, and you all exhibited superhuman patience throughout this entire process. THANK YOU!! I really hope we'll have the opportunity to work together again soon.”
Michael Keys
Exhibition Manager
The Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia
“This was one of the first fully collaborative exhibitions that team has managed, and it could not have been done without you. Thank you for helping them to understand the process of creating an interpretive exhibition with excellent designs. Your work on this project will help the team more than you know. I hope you have had a chance to celebrate you; you deserve it! I hope we will work together in the future! Congratulations!!"
Kate Quinn, MFA
Executive Director
William Maul Measey Chair for the History of Medicine
Mütter Museum and Historical
Medical Library Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources
Clients
Branding | Marketing | Digital
Academy Villiage
Allegheny Ridge Corporation
Aramark Business Services
Aramark Corrections
Awake at Work
Baltimore National Heritage Area
Cadmet
Chester County Fund for Women & Girls
Chester County Historical Society
Classified Ventures | Cars.com
Department of Conservation &
Natural Resources, PA
Dopaco
Double Star
Easton Town Center
Elequant
Elk Country Visitor Center
The Greene Towne Center
Global Coaching Alliance
Harry’s Hotdogs
Hillel of Greater Philadelphia
INA Insurance
Jacob / Wyper Architects
Lamb McErlane, LLC
Lancaster Farmland Trust
Liberty Resources, Inc.
Longwood Gardens
NCO Group
MEC – Medical Equipment Company
MedCLR
M. Nichols Communications
Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums
Mystic Seaport
The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle
North Coast Management
Norwood Company
Philabundance
Physiotherapy Corporation
Playa Grande Investments
Please Touch Museum
Safe Guard Scientific
Smartbutton
Suncom
Steiner & Associates
Stroud Water Research Center
Susquehanna Greenway Partnership
Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area
University of Pennsylvania
–Multiple Divisions
Perlman Center for Advanced Medicine
Union Packaging
WRC Media
Waxman Group Corporation
West Chester University
Westtown School
Woodlynde School
WRC Media
WXPN
Yellow Springs Farm
Zona Rosa Town Center
Exhibits & Environmental | Wayfinding
Academy of Natural Sciences
Adventure Aquarium
ARC – Heritage Discovery Center
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Association for Public Art
Atwater Kent Museum
Baltimore National Heritage Area
Barnes Foundation
Biblical Resource Center & Museum
Blackney Hayes Architects
Chester County Historical Society
City of Philadelphia
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Cleveland Zoological Society
Concord Grape Discovery Center
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
Delaware Museum of Natural History
Department of Conservation &
Natural Resources, PA
Dupont Environmental Education Center
Elk Country Visitor Center
The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle
Farimont Park Conservancy
Franklin Institute
The Greene Towne Center
Heritage PA
Hershey Museum
Historic Bethlehem Partnership Colonial
Industrial Quarter
J&J Architectural
Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens
John Milner Associates
Lancaster Quilt & Textile Museum
Liberty Resources, Inc.
Marsh Creek Environmental Education
Center –PA Game Commission
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Miami Museum of Science
Nashville Zoo
NPS – National Park Service
New Jersey State Legislature | State House
New Jersey State Museum
Newark Museum
Old Sturbridge Village
Pennoni Associates
Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission
Pennsylvania Parks & Forestry Foundation
Philadelphia Zoological Society
Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
SSP Architectural Group, Inc
Stroud Water Research Center
Susquehanna Greenway Partnership
Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area
US Army Corps. of Engineers
US Forest Service District
University Circle, Inc.
York Agricultural & Industrial Museum
York County Heritage Trust
–Historical Society
“Working together with Gecko on the Elk project was a highlight of my career. You guys are fantastic. I just wish we could have had you on board during the planning phase."
Jean Devlin
Chief, Environmental Education and Interpretive Section,
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
“During my 20 year working relationship, Gecko Group has always done a great job presenting and communicating complex ideas as easy to understand concepts. Their creative approach has allowed us to meet budget without sacrificing quality or value. Our collaborative efforts have resulted in multiple awards including two AZA Exhibit of the Year Awards. As a Gecko Group advocate, I would recommend their team and expertise..."
Karl R. Kranz
Executive Vice President for Animal Programs/COO,
The Maryland Zoo In Baltimore
“Having worked with Gecko Group, there is no finer firm to work with. We retained Gecko Group knowing that the standards and goals that were set would be met and matched well."
Peter Siebert
Executive Director,
Independence Seaport Museum
"I knew Allie was a rockstar, and now I’m adding you to the list too, Kathy– and the whole team who helped to create this powerful and dynamic exhibition for our audiences. This was one of the first fully collaborative exhibitions that team has managed, and it could not have been done without you. Thank you for helping them to understand the process of creating an interpretive exhibition with excellent designs. Your work on this project will help the team more than you know. I hope we will work together in the future! Congratulations!!"
Kate Quinn, MFA
Executive Director
William Maul Measey Chair for the History of Medicine
Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library
“I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but I just wanted to reiterate how thrilled everyone here is with the exhibition. I was so impressed with how much you all were able to do with such a short timeline and, let's face it, a smaller budget than we all would have liked. You found creative solutions to difficult designs problems, you created clean, clear, persuasive written content, you turned around deliverables super quickly, and you all exhibited superhuman patience throughout this entire process. THANK YOU!! I really hope we'll have the opportunity to work together again soon.”
Michael Keys
Exhibition Manager
The Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia