Creating Engaging Exhibits

Visual breaks help transform exhibit text from a traditional essay into an engaging digital experience. They create natural pauses for readers, highlight important ideas, and provide opportunities to explore evidence in different formats. Visual breaks can include images, document excerpts, timelines, maps, audio clips, data visualizations, interactive features, and other media that support your interpretation.

The goal is not simply to illustrate your text, but to deepen understanding. Every visual break should contribute to the story you are telling by providing evidence, context, perspective, or an alternative way to engage with the material.

What You'll Find Here

Overview of available visual break formats – A guide to the types of media and interactive features that can be incorporated into forgingUS exhibits

Placement and frequency recommendations – Guidance for integrating visual breaks into your narrative and creating a balanced reading experience

What to Expect

As you draft your exhibit, think of visual breaks as part of the narrative rather than additions that are inserted after the writing is complete. Well-placed visual breaks reinforce key ideas, introduce evidence, provide context, and help readers navigate complex topics.

Most exhibit sections should include multiple visual breaks. As a general guideline, readers should encounter some form of visual engagement every 200–250 words. Longer stretches of uninterrupted text can feel overwhelming on a screen and may discourage exploration, particularly for visitors who prefer to scan content before committing to a full read.

At this stage, focus on:

• identifying primary sources, images, or other materials that support your narrative

• noting places where chronology, geography, or comparison may benefit from visual presentation

• considering where readers may need a pause from extended text

• organizing content into clear sections with descriptive headings that allow readers to quickly understand the structure of your argument

• breaking up lengthy passages of text so that readers can scan the page, locate topics of interest, and navigate the exhibit with ease

• thinking about how visual elements can help communicate your key ideas

Remember: Visual breaks are not decorative additions. They help readers process information, navigate content, and engage with historical evidence. A successful exhibit provides multiple pathways through the material, allowing both careful readers and quick scanners to discover and understand your story.