MET Studio lands Chicago job

Exhibition design specialist MET Studio has been awarded its first major appointment in North America – designing a new gallery at Chicago’s Field Museum.

The consultancy beat US rivals in a three-way credentials pitch for the job. The new basement gallery, called Life Underground, will measure 1390m2 and “be dedicated to the celebration of soil”, says a MET Studio spokeswoman.

Examples of the diverse life forms in soil will be used to dilute prejudice against “mere dirt”.

MET Studio is to develop an experience-based exhibition, centred around giant animatronic insects.

The group has commissioned illustrator Peter Arkle to develop images for the exhibition (pictured), which will be used as the basis of a graphic guide.