Designing for Viewing
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2007, Theorris via flickr /Artwork: designslinger]
We had one of those weird timing things happen yesterday which lead to today's topic.
Our niece (the one we've mentioned before who's studying in Paris about the beginnings of museum exhibit design) wrote an email wondering if we'd read anything about the newseum. It was kind of ironic because we'd seen the building several times in the background of the inaugural parade route down Pennsylvania Avenue. We decided to take a look at the website which makes quite a statement at the top of the page as the: World's Most Interactive Museum. Then, we went to check our Twitter page and we had a new follower, new curator, which is all about museums, design and a ton of other related topics.
All this museum talk reminded me of images I had seen of art museum galleries, at a time
when stacking pictures one on top of another was all the rage. Eventually, curators and the people who think about exhibition design, ditched the cluster effect for the much more presentational, single painting approach. The color of the walls behind the artworks became as important as the arrangement of the works themselves. I remember a time when it seemed like every wall in an art museum was painted white. The viewing of museum art has become much more visually sophisiticated and thoughtful.
Tomas Fano via flickr /Artwork: designslinger]
There are still museums that have those 19th century glass, wood-framed display cases
which hold shelves containing hundreds of objects, or one stuffed animal. But, in the past 20 years or so, those old display boxes have been transformed with new framing, great graphics and a theatrical lighting designer's sensibility. With the advent of computer and digital technology, entirely new areas of exhibit display are being explored to enhance the museum going experience. Schools like The University of the Arts, in Philadelphia, now offer master's degree programs in museum exhibition, planning and design.
Chicago Historical Society; Lions at Lincoln Park Zoo, 2008, davidagalvan via flickr /Artwork: designslinger]
I couldn't write this post without mentioning zoos. I'm treading on sacred ground here,
because there are many people who think all zoos should be abolished. However, since zoos do exist, the least we can do is provide shelter for these animals with a sensitivity that seemed completely non-existent - as recently as 20 years ago. The old zoo full of small, barred cages which were hold overs from another century, took a long time to die and whither away. But, it seems that the majority of zoos in this country have taken measures to improve the living conditions of their animal populations. I know of zoologists, architects, landscape architects, graphic and industrial designers, who are working together to creating living environments that are as humane as possible for the animals, while being as educational as possible for the public. I didn't find any study program that was dedicated to zoo exhibition design like the programs for museum design. If you have any to share, email us, or just write a comment and we'll publish it.
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