Judith Zissman

Judith Zissman is executive creative director at Blue Telescope, a media and design studio that creates experiences for museums, brands, and themed attractions.

She is a leader in museum media and interactive experience design, known for finding the human story at the heart of complex subjects. Through her work with Blue Telescope, she has helped develop experiences that make specialist knowledge accessible and meaningful to diverse audiences.

Her projects include the WWI and WWII galleries at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, where her team translated detailed curatorial expertise into engaging stories about human innovation, and the Henry Ford Museum’s Driven to Win, a 23-piece exhibition exploring the history of American auto racing.

For the latter, Zissman challenged her team to create connections for everyone from dedicated racing fans to visitors with no prior knowledge of the sport.

Zissman advocates for using technology in service of storytelling rather than as an end in itself. She chairs SEGD’s Digital and Interactive Professional Practice Group, where she helps the museum sector navigate emerging technologies including AI and XR, with a focus on their ethical and practical implications.

Across her work, Zissman combines creative direction, design rigour and a strong focus on audience needs. She is also committed to collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the museum and experience-design community.

One nominator said: "Judith approaches every situation in the spirit of community and collaboration, looking to help make the best work, not grab the most work. She is constantly connecting and lifting up the work of everyone around her...She is unequivocally the kind of visionary leader whose work and presence are shaping our industry for the better."