Same / Not Same

Visiting an exhibition is like visiting a city. 

Both need a mix of two things:

- Matching systems - elements that are always the same
- Unique one-offs - elements that are never the same

In a city, repeating support elements like street signs, stoplights and bus stops need to be matching systems. Otherwise, chaos.

But other elements — buildings, homes, restaurants, people — should not be a matching system. Think how creepy a city would be if every building or person matched.

In fact, great cities need plenty of the opposite extreme: singular things around every corner that aren’t like anything, anywhere. Eiffel Towers, Central Parks, Christ the Redeemer statues.

Our exhibitions are like cities:

- Our supporting systems are wall graphics, labels, and display cases.
- Our unique one-offs are train cars, Mona Lisas, and immersive whatevers.

Designers (like me) love making things match. But making things match is not why visitors come.

Here’s the thing:

Just like in cities, great exhibitions should never be designed so that everything matches. 

In fact, it’s the opposite. Our unique things are the reason visitors come.

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:

Pipe and drape. A temporary way of making a freestanding partition or barrier, using fabric spanning vertical and horizontal pipes. This allows short-term work to go on behind the scenes, like galleries being installed or caterers staging food.

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Simply Awful Museum Dad Joke of the Week:

Why don’t mummies go on vacation?
They’re scared to unwind.