This year's fifth Small Talk was held at the Chicago Children's Museum on September 13. Valerie Hebda and Ellen Sanderson, two of the museum's in-house graphic designers, lead the discussion about non-profit smarts, kid-safe considerations and their new space at Grant Park.

The evening began with a brief presentation of the museum's printed materials including a newsletter for members called Handprint. Since the museum is a nonprofit organization, cost and economy are chief concerns. In an effort to keep production costs down and be ecologically-responsible, the staff at CCM has streamlined their marketing communications and become increasingly targeted in their mailings. This was accomplished by decreasing the sizes and quantities of various printed materials and by directing audiences to the Web for more information.

After this initial talk, the group received a tour of the museum while Valerie and Ellen explained the conceptual and structural considerations behind each exhibit. Projects are conceived one to two years before being built and the designers have a very hands-on approach. Often, they build parts of the exhibits themselves. Since every square inch of the museum must be kid-friendly, every detail is carefully handled to prevent injury. Even interior paint colors are selected with sensitivity to how it can affect children's behavior. Of particular interest, some exhibits, like "My Museum," include the handiwork of kids, such as framed artwork andmurals.

In the future, the museum plans to move from their current location at Navy Pier to a new building in Grant Park. The staff is currently working on a whole new set of exhibits although the opening date for the new location is yet to be determined.

Sponsors: Artisan, Dupli-Graphic, Getty Images