iEngage, the University of Washington Information School’s industry engagement program, connects organizations with students eager to apply their academic training to real-world challenges. This spring, iEngage partnered with instructors and students from the Master of Arts in Museology course MUS 583: Directed Fieldwork in Exhibits, co-taught by Assistant Teaching Professor Lane Eagles and Assistant Director of Operations Sarah Samson, to curate an exhibit hosted onsite at the Seattle headquarters of PitchBook, a leading financial data, research and technology provider. 

Students (pictured, from left) Olivia Jenkins, Abigail Watson, Zoe Velie, Thomas McNulty and Marnie Hill-Woodworth gained hands-on experience across the full arc of exhibit development, from concept to installation, while adapting their work for a corporate audience in a nontraditional setting. Their exhibit, The Future Is Now: Century 21 in the 21st Century, featured images held in the UW’s Special Collections archive from the 1962 World’s Fair. The theme aligned with PitchBook’s company value of “Embracing and driving change.”

Michael Mott, director of product management at PitchBook and corporate sponsor for the project, praised the students’ ability to connect company values to art and historical artifacts through their unique curatorial vision. He encouraged other organizations to partner with Museology students, noting the value of stepping outside one’s own perspective and seeing familiar ideas in new ways.

Working within PitchBook’s office environment challenged students to rethink how museum practices translate beyond gallery walls. Hill-Woodworth highlighted the opportunity to learn new mounting techniques that met the requirement of causing no impact to installation surfaces, an important adaptation for corporate spaces. McNulty emphasized the value of gaining insight into navigating corporate culture, an increasingly necessary skill as they prepare to enter the workforce.

For PitchBook employees, the exhibit brought a curated cultural experience into their everyday workspace. Jenkins reflected on the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in a way that had tangible impact, particularly in contributing to employee engagement and wellness.

This collaboration, which is the first iEngage offering to connect Museology students with program partners, highlights how museum practice can extend beyond traditional settings while providing students with meaningful, real-world experience. Visit our website to learn more about how to connect with the iEngage program.