DREAM STATE DESIGN
exhibitions - visitor experiences - products
Object Encounter exhibitions
Object-centric exhibitions typically have one primary objective, that the objects are the heroes of the exhibition. A common element shared by all the exhibitions in this section is that they were designed, built and realised in relatively short timeframes. This allowed for efficiencies in designing furniture, mounting supports, graphic development and production,design documentation and fabrication techniques.
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Image: Kahu Ora: Living Cloaks at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Colossal Squid
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Museum of New Zealand the Papa Tongarewa
An exhibit developed to plug into an existing exhibition, the overall design was governed by the requirements of the tank containing the squid. I designed the activity tables and the aesthetic I developed adopted a scientific look and feel to complement the tank.
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The activity table contained four major interpretive components comprising backlit diagrams providing a legend to the specimens / body parts; containers of specimens / body parts; hands-on mechanical models of tentacle hooks and beak; touchscreen gaming and web kiosks.
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Visible Sculpture Store
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Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and Heritage
A project designed to expand visitor access to the art collections. I designed the window casings and interpretation label rails to complement the original building materials in the gallery. I designed a mobile plinth with various attachments to allow small works to be brought to the fore, when required. The overall functionality of the space allows staff to manoeuvre artworks safely and update labels and interpretation easily.
The wall prior window installation.
The wall post window installation.
Installing the windows meant the interior space had to be reorganised with works being arranged to add interest and a sense of intrigue, whilst being stored safely and efficiently.
The interior was painted black and new display and task lighting was installed.
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The plans shown here were part of a series for the staff to assess and make provision for crates and shelving.
Oceania: Early Encounters
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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Showcasing approximately 250 artefacts my overarching design concept was to relay the notion of a Cabinet of Curiosities or Wunderkammer. This allowed the artefacts to be displayed in eclectic juxtapositions within early 20thC display cabinetry. Given the quantity and diversity of content my knowledge of artefacts, object support and conservation considerations was invaluable when discussing arrangements with the Curator.
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The cabinetry was then placed in simple modest rooms. The five rooms, one per theme, formed the gallery landscape. Each room was painted a single colour and the colours used reinforced storylines and acknowledged the meaning / interpretation of colour within the different regions that make up the Pacific.
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The visitor's experience was enhanced by light, colour and sound, prompting an emotional response to the artefacts and their stories
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