Martina Deneva is an exhibition designer and a museum researcher. She gained her experience in design studios and museums throughout Italy and Bulgaria, most notably the Museum of Humour and Satire in Gabrovo. In 2018 Martina started her own practice and in 2020 she joined a PhD program at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences to investigate the role of exhibition design in constructing museum narratives. Her broader interests are related to the community activization in smaller cities as well as the preservation of public and cultural spaces in Bulgaria.

EXPERIENCE

• Exhibition Designer at MUSEUM OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE (2020 – present)
• Project Manager at ALL IN STUDIO (2019)
• Interior Designer at PUZL COWORKING (2018)
• Exhibition Designer at MUSEUM ETAR and MUSEUM OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE (2017)
• Interior Designer at IDEA (2016)
• Interior Designer at ALL 1 STUDIO (2016)
• Interior & Exhibition Design Intern at ELIGO STUDIO (2015)

EDUCATION

• PhD in Museology at BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (2020 – 2023)
• Double Honors Degree at ALTA SCUOLA POLITECNICA (2012 – 2015)
• MA in Interior Design at POLITECNICO DI MILANO (2012 – 2015)
• BA in Interior Design at NEW BULGARIAN UNIVERSITY (2007 – 2011)

AWARDS

• Darik 40 Under 40 – Season 9 (2022)
• Milano Design Award with the team of ELIGO STUDIO / SEGNO ITALIANO (2015)
• Full academic scholarship – ALTA SCUOLA POLITECNICA (2012 – 2015)
• Full academic scholarship – (2012 – 2015)
• Full academic scholarship – NEW BULGARIAN UNIVERSITY(2007 – 2011)

SELECTED CLIENTS

• National Ethnology Museum
• National Museum of Natural History
• Regional History Museum Gabrovo
• History Museum Popovo
• History Museum Chiprovtsi
• Paleontological Museum Asenovgrad
• Museum of Humour and Satire
• Museum ETAR
• IKEA
• CLAIM COMPASS
• SKAPTO

PRESS / EVENTS

• GRAZIA MAGAZINE – Interview (November 2021)
• MELBA LIVE – Presentation (September 2021)
• HORA – Interview (May 2021)
• USPELITE.BG and TUK-TAM – Interview (June 2017)
• GABROVO DAILY – Publication (March 2016)

LECTURES / REPORTS / ARTICLES

• Museum exhibitions as a bridge between content and audience – Lecture at the event „Every second Tuesday“ organized by IBCT – BAS (2022)
• The visual narrative within the exhibition halls of the Museum of Folk Arts and Crafts – Article in the publication „Museum Magazine“ published by the MFAC – Tryavna (2022)
• Documentary research and preparation of the permanent exhibition „How Gabrovo became the Capital of Humour“ – Report at the scientific conference with international participation „Bulgarian Laughter“ organized by IL – BAS (2021)
• Exhibition design project and interactive elements in the temporary exhibition „Pathways to the Table“ – Article in the periodical magazine „Monuments. Restoration. Museums ” published by ARH & ART Publishing House (2021)
• The popular entertainment as a bridge to the art – Article in the issue „Good practices 2021. Contemporary trends and problems in the activities of Bulgarian museums and art galleries“ published by RAM – Plovdiv (2021)
• The role of external specialists in the development of innovative and engaging exhibitions in Bulgarian museums – Report at the round table „Exhibition Design and Creative Industries“, organized by the New Bulgarian University (2020)