Matthew Dawson founded Studiodawson after a 25-year career leading museum, attraction and destination projects around the world.

Address

Toronto

Email

mdawson@studiodawson.com

Services we plan, design and lead memorable museum experiences. Museums succeed when they earn and retain guest attention. We help museums compete for that attention by applying experience design principles refined in other sectors. We look beyond museums for better ways to design the guest experience, and translates what we learn into museum planning and design. At Studiodawson—

Services

How we can help

Step 1

Plan.

By synthesizing storyline, guest experience, audience profile and physical location, Studiodawson develops plans that provide a roadmap for the future.

Strategic Planning
Master Planning

Step 2

Design.

Exhibition design brings objects and stories to life in three-dimensional space. Studiodawson designs permanent, changing and temporary exhibitions from concept design to final design documentation.

Exhibition Design
Experience Visioning

Step 3

Lead.

Studiodawson integrates with client teams to guide projects from concept through opening day, combining design expertise with hands-on delivery experience.

Project Execution
Thought Leadership

Roots.

The Roots of Studiodawson—

Three defining experiences shaped the practice that became Studiodawson..

Plan

Panama Canal Authority
Lead master planner for five tourism destinations across the Panama Canal, including Miraflores Locks, a rainforest adventure park, a cruise terminal and an iconic observation tower.

Design

Mandai Bird Paradise
Project Director responsible for the design of 35 large-scale themed experiences defining the park's cultural and geographic zones.

Lead

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Deputy Director responsible for a 25-person curatorial, education and collections team through the museum's opening, including the inaugural exhibition of 450 works, gallery interpretation, public programs and an interactive learning gallery.

Insights.

How we think—
November 21, 2025

Designing for Gen Alpha

The world Gen Alpha is growing up in is different. Different from the cohort right before them—Gen Z—and different from the generations before—Millennials—who…

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