WHO WE ARE
DOUG MUND
OWNER / PRINCIPAL
Doug Mund is a nationally recognized museum planner, architect, and exhibit designer with over 40 years of experience creating engaging cultural, educational, and visitor-centered environments. Throughout his career, he has focused on creating meaningful experiences that connect people, place, and purpose through thoughtful master planning, architecture, and exhibit design.
In 1999, Doug founded the designgroup, which expanded to Savannah, Georgia, in 2014 and evolved into dmdg2. While trained as an architect, Doug's greatest passion has been helping museums define and refine their mission through meaningful master planning. Early in his career, he recognized that successful museums are built upon a thoughtful understanding of an institution's unique needs, its role within a community, and its place in the broader world. Creating inspiring spaces and exhibits that strengthen an organization's purpose and deepen its impact has become his life's work.
Doug believes museums are powerful community advocates, bringing together the stories of people, cultures, science, nature, and history in ways that inspire learning, connection, and discovery. This philosophy has shaped his approach to design, where
architecture, exhibits, and institutional mission work together to create immersive and transformative visitor experiences. His work is guided by the belief that thoughtfully designed environments can influence how people understand themselves, their communities, and the world around them.
Over the years, Doug has led all aspects of museum planning, architecture, and exhibit design. His process begins with listening - understanding each client's story, aspirations, and goals before building collaborative teams dedicated to bringing those visions to life. Doug is committed to pushing creative boundaries while balancing practical considerations of budget, schedule, and long-term success.
Doug has led award-winning projects for museums, aquariums, historic sites, and science centers, including the USS Constitution Museum, New England Aquarium, Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, and MFA Boston. His work has received recognition from the American Institute of Architects, the National Association for Museum Exhibition, the American Alliance of Museums, and the New England Museum Association.
HILLARY SCHMIDT
MARKETING & DESIGN
Hillary Schmidt brings a unique blend of experience to every project at dmdg2. A graduate of the internationally recognized Savannah College of Art and Design, Hillary earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Marketing & Management, where she focused her studies on branding, visual merchandising. Following graduation, Hillary began her professional career in Beverly Hills as an Assistant Buyer and Visual Merchandiser. While the retail industry provided valuable experience in consumer engagement and visual storytelling, her desire to create deeper connections between people, places, and ideas led her back to the East Coast and ultimately to dmdg2.
At dmdg2, Hillary plays a vital role in exhibit design, branding, graphic design, and retail planning. She believes that design should be a seamless and essential component of every museum experience, helping visitors feel welcomed,
engaged, and connected to the stories being shared. With a thoughtful approach to communication, she carefully considers how language, tone, visuals, and environment work together to create meaningful experiences for diverse audiences.
In addition to her design work, Hillary is a Certified Life Coach and Grief Educator who brings a deeply human-centered perspective to her work with museums and cultural organizations. Her approach is grounded in the belief that when people feel seen, supported, and empowered, organizations are better equipped to fulfill their mission and serve their communities.
Hillary is particularly passionate about helping clients tell their stories with authenticity and respect. Whether developing an exhibit, crafting a brand identity, or coaching museum professionals, she approaches each opportunity with empathy, curiosity, and a deep commitment to connection. She believes that museums have the power to strengthen communities, foster understanding, and inspire transformation, and she is dedicated to helping organizations create experiences that reflect those values.
OLIVIA SPRATT
EXHIBIT DESIGN & RESEARCH
Olivia Spratt brings a unique combination of museum operations, curatorial experience, research, and technical design expertise to the dmdg2 team. A graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Olivia has long been passionate about museums and the role they play in preserving and sharing stories that connect people to history, culture, and community.
Early in her career, Olivia gained hands-on experience at several of Boston's most respected museums, including the Gibson House Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Through internships in curatorial and collections-focused roles, she developed skills in research, object documentation, exhibit planning, interpretive writing, and collections management while gaining a deeper understanding of how museums operate behind the scenes.
Olivia further expanded her museum expertise at the Samuel Slater Experience, where she served as Curator and Administrative Coordinator during the museum's formative years. Working alongside the dmdg2 team throughout the planning and development process, she experienced firsthand the challenges and opportunities of creating a new museum and nonprofit organization from the ground up. In this role, she managed curatorial operations, donor and museum records, historical research, exhibit text development, and day-to-day museum administration.
Since joining dmdg2 in 2021, Olivia has become an integral part of the design team, specializing in CAD detailing and computer modeling. Her background in museum operations and curatorial work gives her a unique perspective on how exhibits function both behind the scenes and from the visitor's point of view. Working closely with the firm's partners and designers, Olivia helps translate concepts into detailed plans and models, ensuring continuity throughout the design process and contributing to the successful realization of each project.