DESIGNING A NEW MUSEUM: A Conversation with Tanner Woodford and Kevin Reader of the Design Museum of Chicago
Tanner Woodford
Founder & Executive Director
Tanner founded DMoC in 2012 as a volunteer-run organization. Over 13 years, Tanner has expanded the museum to year-round operations with 4 full-time staff, 21 board members, and numerous volunteers and interns. Under his leadership, DMoC has hosted over 38 exhibitions, 285 free public programs, 50 workshops, and commissioned more than 70,000 square feet of new work. As an artist, Tanner paints optimistic, typographic, and larger-than-life murals. His work has appeared at the WNDR Museum, Soho House Chicago, and is permanently installed in the John Hancock Building. In 2020, Tanner was appointed to the City of Chicago’s Cultural Advisory Council. He leads with optimism and a belief in design’s power to connect people across communities. His work is grounded in the idea that design belongs to everyone—and should reflect and serve its community.
Kevin Reader
Executive Director of Programming and Operations
Kevin joined DMoC in 2021 as the Executive Director of Programming and Operations to oversee the museum’s exhibitions, programs, special projects, and partnerships. Since joining, Kevin has expanded DMoC’s internship program and built a network of more than 650 community partnerships Before joining DMoC’s team, Kevin was the Artistic Director at Cards Against Humanity, where he oversaw their 100-person co-working space and strengthened internal teams and external partnerships. Kevin brings a community-centered approach to all aspects of programming, with a focus on inclusion, experimentation, and accessibility. His leadership has helped position DMoC as a hub for emerging artists, civic design, and public engagement.
