Introduction To Exhibition Design

Notas do Editor

1. Exhibition Design is all about the visitor experience, from first perceptions to final recollections, therefore in order to deliver exciting experiences and to transport visitors to another time, another place or another level of understanding designers must combine all kinds of expression from objects and words, to sound and moving images, colour and physical space and personal interaction.
2. The Hall of Names, located toward the end of the historic museum, is a conical structure extending upward 9 meters (30 feet) and housing the personal records of all known Holocaust victims. A reciprocal cone, penetrating deep into the Jerusalem bedrock below, echoes the upper chamber and commemorates those whose names will never be known. The 20-hectare (50-acre) site also includes the Children’s Holocaust Memorial and the Transport Memorial, designed by Moshe Safdie and completed in 1987 and 1995, respectively, as well as the Hall of Remembrance, administrative offices, an education and archival center and the Valley of the Communities.
3. The Kleist Museum, located at Faberstraße 7 in Frankfurt an der Oder, Germany, is a museum dedicated to the life and work of Heinrich von Kleist. Bernd Heinrich Wilhelm von Kleist (18 October 1777 – 21 November 1811) was a German poet, dramatist, novelist and short story writer. The Kleist Prize, a prestigious prize for German literature, is named after him.
4. Though exhibitions are common events, the concept of an exhibition is quite wide and encompasses many variables— from large events such as a World's Fair to small one—artist solo shows.
5. The EXPO was held in Zaragoza Spain, with the overarching theme of “water and sustainable development”. Being a world leader in sustainable technology, it was time for Denmark to get the word out. The Danish Pavilion did just that – presenting sustainable technologies that start small but have the potential to effect real global change.
6. Though exhibitions are common events, the concept of an exhibition is quite wide and encompasses many variables— from large events such as a World's Fair to small one—artist solo shows.
7. Creating a great exhibition involves the skills and ideas of many people—it is a collaborative effort between scholar (and interpreter), curator and designer(s). Curators are involved as the people who select the items in an exhibition with scholars and editors providing text, labels and accompanying printed material such as catalogues, DMs or books. Architects, exhibition designers and graphic designers are needed to 'shape' the exhibition space and give form to the editorial content. Organising and hosting an exhibition also requires effective event planning, management and logistics.
8. In short, to create an exhibition is to tell a structured story in 3—D so that text (information), artefacts (the objects on display) and design work together in harmony. Therefore the most appropriate selection or combination of media and methods of presentation is critical— from video or interactive techniques to original artefacts or recreated scenes and all must be completely integrated into the physical design to create a seamless and magical experience.
9. In short, to create an exhibition is to tell a structured story in 3—D so that text (information), artefacts (the objects on display) and design work together in harmony. Therefore the most appropriate selection or combination of media and methods of presentation is critical— from video or interactive techniques to original artefacts or recreated scenes and all must be completely integrated into the physical design to create a seamless and magical experience.
10. So What Is An Exhibition? In the most general sense, an exhibition is an organised presentation and display of carefully selected items available for viewing within museums, galleries, exhibition halls and World's Fairs or Expos. They can showcase artworks such as those seen in major art museums and small art galleries; or present interpretive displays commonly seen in natural history museums and history museums; or exhibit artefacts such as the kinds seen in commercial exhibitions or trade fairs.
11. In the most general sense, an exhibition is an organised presentation and display of carefully selected items available for viewing within museums, galleries, exhibition halls and World's Fairs or Expos. They can showcase artworks such as those seen in major art museums and small art galleries; or present interpretive displays commonly seen in natural history museums and history museums; or exhibit artefacts such as the kinds seen in commercial exhibitions or trade fairs.
12. In the most general sense, an exhibition is an organised presentation and display of carefully selected items available for viewing within museums, galleries, exhibition halls and World's Fairs or Expos. They can showcase artworks such as those seen in major art museums and small art galleries; or present interpretive displays commonly seen in natural history museums and history museums; or exhibit artefacts such as the kinds seen in commercial exhibitions or trade fairs.
13. Exhibitions can be permanent or temporary, but usually they are short term with scheduled opening and closing on specific dates; and while many exhibitions are shown in just one venue, others known as travelling exhibitions are shown in multiple locations. Importantly, it is also common nowadays to have an accompanying online exhibition. Exhibitions may occur in series or periodically, as in the case with Biennales, Triennials and Quadrennials.
14. Exhibitions can be permanent or temporary, but usually they are short term with scheduled opening and closing on specific dates; and while many exhibitions are shown in just one venue, others known as travelling exhibitions are shown in multiple locations. Importantly, it is also common nowadays to have an accompanying online exhibition. Exhibitions may occur in series or periodically, as in the case with Biennales, Triennials and Quadrennials.
15. Generally organised into 3 groups, exhibitions can be categorised as art, interpretive or commercial. The first kind (art) includes an array of artefacts from the countless forms of human making— paintings, drawings, crafts, sculpture, video installations, sound installations, performances or interactive art. Art exhibitions may focus on 1 artist, 1 group, 1 genre, 1 theme or just 1 collection; or may be organised by curators or selected by juries. These kinds of exhibition usually highlight works of art with generous space and lighting and supply information through labels or audioguides which are designed to be unobtrusive.
16. Generally organised into 3 groups, exhibitions can be categorised as art, interpretive or commercial. The first kind (art) includes an array of artefacts from the countless forms of human making— paintings, drawings, crafts, sculpture, video installations, sound installations, performances or interactive art. Art exhibitions may focus on 1 artist, 1 group, 1 genre, 1 theme or just 1 collection; or may be organised by curators or selected by juries. These kinds of exhibition usually highlight works of art with generous space and lighting and supply information through labels or audioguides which are designed to be unobtrusive.
17. The second kind (interpretive) are those that require more context to explain the items being displayed; for example exhibitions devoted to scientific and historical themes, must include text, charts, maps or interactive displays to provide necessary background explanation; therefore interpretive exhibitions generally require more text and more graphics than fine art exhibitions do.
18. Commercial exhibitions, the third kind, which are generally known as trade fairs, trade shows or expos, are usually organised so that groups or organisations in a specific interest or industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products or services, study activities of rivals or examine trends and opportunities. Some trade fairs, such as The Frankfurt Book Fair, which is trade—only for its first 3 days and open to the general public on its final two days, are hybrids, while others can only be attended by company representatives, members of the trade or members of the press.
19. Ultimately, the visitor is the client and irrespective of exhibition type the job of the Exhibition Designer is to create an experience that works on several fronts including: aesthetic appeal, practicality and message!