Design in 2018 – what will exhibition design look like?

As part of our series on the future of design in 2018, Drinkall Dean partner Angela Drinkall tells us what she thinks will happen in exhibition design over the next 12 months.

What do you think 2018 will hold for exhibition design?

For designers most exhibitions are a year or more in the making. For museums and galleries, the idea has been alive much longer. Most shows we see this year will already be in some way developed in terms of design. Experience delivered through interpretation is key. This varies greatly depending on the subject and content. Words we often find in design briefs include: immersive, experiential, content rich, innovative, interactive, theatrical and ground breaking. Ultimately, we must create something informative and memorable. I think we will see some atmospheric exhibitions this year that increasingly draw on multimedia to provide this, but I think the most successful ones will challenge the visitor to question their preconceptions of what an exhibition is.

What was your favourite exhibition in 2017?

Photo: © Tate

In 2017 I have enjoyed some great shows, but one of my favourite exhibitions was Wolfgang Tillmans at Tate Modern. It was a content rich exhibition with a pace that varied constantly, from the scale of works to the experimental and bold way they were displayed. They were often frameless, taped to the wall and at challenging viewing heights. The boundaries of visitor interaction were tested by the informal hang of this show, and I found that really exciting.

Start the discussionStart the discussion
  • Post a comment

Latest articles