Riggs Ward Design

Riggs Ward Design Visitor experience and A/V media design firm based in Virginia and doing work all over the world.

Riggs Ward is an award-winning research, planning, and design firm based in Richmond, Virginia. We create immersive and educational experiences for museums, visitor centers, cultural destinations, and themed environments. Our team combines audience research, strategic content development, exhibit and environmental graphic design, and interactive AV media to deliver spaces that are innovative, meaningful, and unforgettable.

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

American Alliance of Museums (AAM) 2026 was a success! The Expo Hall was full of energy, innovation, and inspiring conve...
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!

We feel incredibly fortunate to work with museums across the country. Every project is a reminder of the important role ...
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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We are headed to London this week for the Museums + Heritage Show! Museums + Heritage - leading sector magazine and even...
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!

Featured in The New York Times!Our team is beyond excited to share that a recent New York Times article highlights not o...
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

Riggs Ward Design is honored to receive the Award of Excellence for Best Design from CREW Network for our work at Fort F...
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.

We’re heading to the Baltimore for the Building Museums Conference next week, March 11–13!Stop by Booth 17 and say hello...
03/06/2026

We’re heading to the Baltimore for the Building Museums Conference next week, March 11–13!

Stop by Booth 17 and say hello to the Riggs Ward Design team.

Building Museums brings together architects, museum leaders, planners, and project teams to explore the vision, implementation, and long-term sustainability of museum building projects.

If you’re attending, we’d love to connect. See you there!

Black history is carried through the stories we preserve and the ways we share them.Riggs Ward Design was honored to cre...
02/27/2026

Black history is carried through the stories we preserve and the ways we share them.

Riggs Ward Design was honored to create interactive media for the Civil Rights Memorial Center, operated by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Through touchscreens and a multi-user map table, visitors can explore the lives, places, and events that shaped the civil rights movement, uncovering connections and stories in an intuitive, self-guided experience.

Riggs Ward Design celebrates Black History Month. At the historic Douglas School in Wi******er, VA, our exhibit work sha...
02/13/2026

Riggs Ward Design celebrates Black History Month.

At the historic Douglas School in Wi******er, VA, our exhibit work shares the story of a school created in 1929 when segregation limited opportunities for Black students, and how the community transformed it into a powerful place of learning, leadership, and connection.

Today, as the building serves as Wi******er Public Schools' headquarters, the exhibits help carry those stories forward, honoring the resilience and pride that continue to shape the community.

We came across this early rendering and wanted to see it next to the finished gallery. It’s always exciting to look back...
01/13/2026

We came across this early rendering and wanted to see it next to the finished gallery. It’s always exciting to look back and see how an idea evolves into a space people can explore. This side-by-side is a small window into the process that turns concepts into real, engaging museum environments.

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, Hatteras, NC.

Address

2315 W Main Street
Richmond, VA
23220

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+18042541740

Website

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