Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
this point there is no narrative. A narrative is created when the information is con-
sidered and constructed by a designer and is given a beginning, a middle and an end.
This is the basic structure of a story; a narrator is then needed to tell the story.
The narrator is the medium the designer selects to communicate the content of the
story. This may be text-based, using motion graphics, interactive, 2D or 3D; most ex-
hibitions utilize combinations of different media to communicate to their audience.
There are some highly creative examples of the use of media to support the deliv-
ery of content within exhibition design; one of the projects we are featuring (Science
Storms; see opposite) is a good example of this.
The path of an exhibition is essentially its physical structure when translated into a
three-dimensional space; it is the design of the space. The path would be used to de-
termine what an audience would see/ experience and when; it is the sequence in which
the audience will experience the story.
In most exhibitions you will not see the whole exhibit at once. Content will be de-
livered in sections, and the exhibition designer will consider what, how, and when
you see the information. Exhibits may be presented in a timeline, with a physical hier-
archy to direct the audience from one place to another, or as themes, but whichever
method is used, the space must be logically and consistently organized so that the
story makes sense and is read in the right order. Revealing information in stages, us-
ing a hierarchy method, ensures that the audience is not overloaded with content. As
with a story, the first stage should set the scene and entice the audience to continue
and discover what happens next. Offering information in this way is a key factor in
the prolonged engagement of an audience within an exhibition space.
When considering all of these aspects of storytelling, it is important not to forget the
context. Think about the context as the environment or space that surrounds the ex-
hibition, the introduction of the audience to the exhibit. How can this space help pre-
pare the audience or introduce them to what they are about to experience? This can set
the mood and tone for the exhibition. It could provide snippets of information from
the exhibition to engage the audience, or it may be lit in the same way as the exhibi-
tion space itself; there are many ways one could do this and it is important to consider
how the viewer approaches the space.
A good exhibition designer will use space, scale, hierarchy, media, materials and vari-
ous technologies to tell the story of a particular exhibit in a particular way. The con-
tent, the information being presented, in conjunction with the target audience, will
shape how that story is told. Different stories require different treatments; a good ex-
hibition designer will create and design an experience appropriate to that story. They
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