Language of Space

Exhibition design has changed a lot by the time and designers had to start focusing on how to capture the viewers’ attention in order to stimulate an enjoyable yet educational experience. The young age groups are those which are targeted most since they are usually the least bothered and less interested audience. An exhibition setting can prove and distinguish one experience from another.

In order to create an intriguing setting, one has to analyse and study those elements. In fact, those elements have to create all the fun when learning something different since the subject would usually be out of the audience’s league.

From the book Engaging Spaces by Kossmann Dejong, there was a chapter dedicated to the structure and whole story of this. The first one would be the arch of tension at first glance. This means that the viewer has to stay engaged and focused all the time without finding a loophole and getting bored. In an exhibition space, there should be no corners or spaces where there is nothing interesting or else those who care less end up there, texting or ‘waiting’ until it’s all over. The second one would be abstraction. It is very important that some features are not too obvious within an exhibition display. 

For example if I had to exhibit fish, I would not just place fish tanks all over the space and label each tank according to the type of fish in it. I would think of something less obvious where the visitor can interpret this exhibition to his own liking. Leaving room for personal reflections would contribute for the visitor to continue watching and wondering around the exhibits.

Science exhibition in the City Musem of the Hague 

There is also immersion which in my opinion is the most powerful sense in exhibition design. The audience have to feel that they are entering a new world, a space which divides them from their ordinary world, a layout which is not usually experienced. There are various tools and kinds of media in order to evoke an immersive exhibition design. This is also practised in theatre design where the audience is immersed in the play; the challenge for every set designer of how to break the forth wall. The forth wall is that imaginary wall which separates the actors from the audience.

Reference:

Dejong, KD, 2010. Engaging Spaces. 1st ed. Amsterdam: Frame Publishers