Riggs Ward Design

06/17/2026

Last night, we got to witness IllumiNATION light up Virginia Museum of History & Culture for its test run before the public showings next week.

This immersive projection experience transforms the museum's facade into a storytelling canvas, bringing moments from American history to life through light, imagery, and music.

Swipe through for highlights from the evening, along with a few behind-the-scenes moments from the setup and preparation that helped bring the experience to life.

And don't worry, you still have opportunities to see it yourself!

IllumiNATION officially starts next week, June 25-28 as part of the museum's free block party celebration leading up to America's 250th anniversary. Each evening features live music, food trucks, family activities, after-hours museum access, and the projection experience beginning at 9 PM.

We're proud to have played a key role in this exciting project and look forward to seeing more audiences experience it next week.

06/17/2026

06/17/2026

The Virginia Museum of History and Culture is preparing to mark America's 250th anniversary with a free, four-night outdoor event featuring a video art projection that tells the story of the United States.

🔗 Story at the link in the comments.

06/06/2026

Please consider donating to this remarkable organization to honor the sacrifice of the Bedford Boys on D-Day. Twenty young men from Bedford, Virginia lost their lives on that fateful day. For such a small town, the loss was devastating. Riggs Ward is honored to be collaborating with the National D-Day Memorial on its latest exhibit.

06/01/2026

We are thrilled to be part of the team behind IllumiNATION and can't wait for the public debut.

As part of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture's free four-night celebration of America's 250th anniversary, a stunning 20-minute video projection will transform the museum's building into an immersive storytelling experience.

Join the festivities June 25–28 and see it for yourself!

05/26/2026

American Alliance of Museums (AAM) 2026 was a success!

The Expo Hall was full of energy, innovation, and inspiring conversations, and we loved connecting with so many members of the museum community throughout the event.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat with us - we’re excited to continue the conversations and build new connections in the months ahead!

05/18/2026

We feel incredibly fortunate to work with museums across the country. Every project is a reminder of the important role museums play in our communities by preserving history, sharing knowledge, encouraging curiosity, and creating spaces for people to connect with ideas and with each other.

On International Museum Day, we’re grateful for the people and organizations dedicated to making those experiences possible, and proud to support their work through design and storytelling.

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05/11/2026

We are headed to London this week for the Museums + Heritage Show! Museums + Heritage - leading sector magazine and events

We’re excited to go across the pond to attend the UK’s largest gathering of museum, gallery, and heritage professionals.

We are exhibiting, visit us at Booth U12!

05/01/2026

Featured in The New York Times!

Our team is beyond excited to share that a recent New York Times article highlights not one, but two of our projects - one completed and one currently in progress.

The lead image showcases a rendering from "IllumiNATION," a projection art installation developed as part of America's 250th Anniversary initiative by Virginia Museum of History & Culture

The article also features "We the People," a recently opened exhibition at VMHC exploring the profound impact of immigrants on Virginia. The exhibition remains on view through September 7 and was an especially meaningful project for our team.

Projects like these are always a collective effort. Pictured here are four team members who contributed to bringing them to life, alongside others:

Left to right:
Will Kommor (IllumiNATION)
Alana Wiljanen (IllumiNATION)
John Michael Bonano (We the People)
Heather Palmateer (We the People)

Read the NYT article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/19/arts/design/museums-250th-united-states.html

03/24/2026

Riggs Ward Design is honored to receive the Award of Excellence for Best Design from CREW Network for our work at Fort Fisher State Historic Site!

Our team designed 3,300 SF of immersive exhibits within the new 19,916 SF visitor center, replacing the original 1965 facility and responding to significant growth in visitation. The exhibit experience uses narrative-driven storytelling, interactive elements, and firsthand accounts to interpret Fort Fisher’s Civil War significance and its evolving role in U.S. history.

By combining thoughtful curation with accessible design strategies, the exhibits create an engaging entry point for diverse audiences while supporting the site’s contemporary mission.

We’re proud to have partnered with Clark Nexsen, A JMT Company and the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources on this award-winning project.