Basics of Exhibition Design

• Exhibition design involves creating displays and experiences for museums, galleries, trade shows, and other public or private events.
• The overall goal of exhibition design is to create a engaging and memorable visitor experience by showcasing objects, artifacts, or artworks.
• It's a multidisciplinary practice, blending elements of architecture, interior design, graphic design, interaction design, and advertising.

Principles of Exhibition Design

• Exhibition design considers how viewers interact with the exhibit, often guiding them through a clear narrative or theme.
• It focuses on the display of objects, with careful attention to placement, lighting, colour, and layout.
• Accessibility is a critical aspect, ensuring that all visitors, including those with disabilities, can navigate and understand the exhibition.
• The designer also considers the atmosphere or mood of the exhibition, using lighting, material, colour, and sound to evoke specific responses.

Exhibition Design Techniques and Tools

• Sketching and model-making are used in the early stages to visualise the exhibition layout and spatial arrangements.
• Designers use digital software like CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and 3D rendering programs to develop detailed plans and virtual walkthroughs.
• Physical construction may involve set building, graphic printing, lighting installation, and arranging display cases.
• Technology can also play a big role, with interactive displays, AR (Augmented Reality) or VR (Virtual Reality), and multimedia presentations enhancing the visitor experience.

Notable Exhibition Design Styles and Movements

• Traditional museum exhibits often employ a formal and authoritative style, with a focus on showcasing as many objects as possible.
• Contemporary exhibition design embraces more interactive and experiential formats, inviting visitors to explore, touch, and take part in the exhibition.
• There are also trends towards sustainability, using eco-friendly materials and minimising energy consumption, and diversity – featuring a range of voices and perspectives in the stories told.

Understanding and Interpreting Exhibitions

• Successful exhibition design catches the visitor's attention, provides clear information, and stimulates thought and emotional engagement.
• The storytelling aspect of an exhibition can make complex subjects accessible, often using personal narratives to bring subjects to life.
• When evaluating an exhibition consider its educational value, its ability to entertain and inspire, as well as the effectiveness of its design elements (layout, signage, lighting etc.)

Ethical and Environmental Considerations for Exhibition Design

• Principles of ethical sourcing apply to exhibition construction materials as well as the objects on display.
• Designers have a responsibility to consider the environmental impact of the exhibitions they create, including transportation, waste production, and energy usage.
• Furthermore, the depiction of certain subjects or communities should be done with respect and with an aim to promote inclusivity and diversity.

Exhibition Design in a Professional Context

• Exhibition designers can work in-house for a museum or gallery, for a standalone design consultancy, or as freelancers.
• Collaboration is a key part of the job, working with curators, conservators, architects, graphic designers and more.
• They must also keep up-to-date with developments in technology, materials, and best practices in regards to sustainability and accessibility.