Exhibition Planning and Design
(adapted from David Dean, Museum Exhibition)Project Model
Designing Exhibitions
Key design elements:
- Value
- Color
- Texture
- Balance
- Line
- Shape
- Value
- associated with visual weight characteristics (darker = heavy, lighter shades = lighter weight)
- for design purposes important for emphasis, orientation, attraction/repulsion = visual impact
- controlled by pigment, surface treatment, lighting
- Color
- extensive subject - physics and psychology (requires both light energy and the action of the human brain, perceived through the filter of perception and are ascribed meaning)
- Texture
- texture is the visual roughness or smoothness of a surface
- may be actual surface treatment with tactile dimension or may be just varying density of pigment, quality of line, etc. (ex. sponge painting, computer screen backgrounds)
- Balance
- quality of visual weight distribution
- infinite variations
- generally symmetry is formal composition and asymmetry is informal
- Line
- the quality of linearity -- a string of points with little or no space between them to lead the eye and suggest direction.
- gives strong directional content to composition
- can vary in strength, density, width, and other qualities
- Shape
- the element of physical or spatial containment -- the composite of all points forming the internal or external surface of a composition.
- two and three dimensional shapes
- geometric = hard-edged (squares cubes, triangles, circles)
- organic = curvilinear, softer
- contrast of organic and geometric creates visual interest, variation.
Human Factors in Design
- Human dimensions = scale: we relate space to ourselves as the fixed unit of measurement - response to space (cathedrals vs. homes vs. closets)
- Touching - innate predisposition for touching - sensory confirmation of what they see, memory reinforcement (if they can reach it they will try to touch it - hence the need for barriers (variety of types)
- Entry response - all other things equal, people go in the larger, well-lit opening
- Viewing height - center at eye level is most comfortable ave. adult eye level = 5'3", with cone shape of the field of vision determined by distance from the object. Things outside the cone difficult to see.
- Sitting or leaning - if the surface is available, they will do it.
- Personal space - when violated the person will react - repel or move away.
- Exhibits are transactional spaces where people carry on varied activities in the presence of each other
- Distributional spaces: where people enter or exit lobbies, corridors
- Collecting spaces: meet or gather: classrooms, auditoriums, exhibit halls
- Transitional spaces: spaces through which people move form one place to another: doorways, atria
Behavioral Tendencies
- Turning to the right
- Following the right wall
- Stopping at the first exhibit on the right side
- Exhibits closest to the exit are the least viewed
- Preference for visible exits
- Shortest route preference
- Language dependent reading patterns
- Aversion to darkness
- Chromophalic behavior (attracted to brightness)
- Megaphalic behavior (attracted to largeness - go to biggest object in the room)
- Photophalic behavior (attracted to brightest illumination)
- Exhibit fatigue (mental and physical over stimulation or over-exertion)
- Larger type is read more
Design Strategies
- Left turning upon entry
- See-through panes, case, and windows (to capture attention and draw visitors to the next area, create openness, mystery, promote interest and movement)
- Pools of light and color
- Landmark exhibits (place striking objects and displays periodically throughout gallery)
- Use headlining and large type (quick transfer of information- themes)
- Use diagonals and curves (visually active, lead from one exhibit to the next)
- Transitional spaces - changes in ceiling height, color scheme, lighting level, aisle width, and other manipulations of vision and physical space to shift attention, change moods, evoke emotional response.
Traffic Flow Options (draw on board/see xerox)
- Unstructured
- Directed
- Combination/suggested
- Object arrangement
- Horizon lines
- Directionality
- Balance
Exhibit Text
- Title signs: 1-10 words long. Identifying what exhibit is about. Wayfinders. (large panel size, imposing print, attention grabbing, design over content, mood setting
- Sub-titles (section headings): 10=20 words, large and easy to read from a distance, more informational than titles, topic oriented
- Introductory texts: 50-200 words divided into succinct, concise paragraphs of about 75 words; near entry; explanatory -- relates rationale for exhibition, unifying statement, introduces major concepts
- Group texts: 75-150 words (broken into 75 word max. para.), associated with groupings of objects or a section; sometimes begin with a "kicker" or heading; unifies the grouping conceptually; informative, interpretive
Object Labels
- Captions: 75 words max, interpretive, specific to object or small group.
- ID labels: contain basic facts, give objects a name.
- Distributional materials: brochures, etc. optional, portable, target to interested visitor; unlimited text length, information intensive.