Studio Erika’s interior concept uses the folding screens as the basic element of the exhibition design. Graphic: Studio Erika
When you walk between the folding screens in the exhibition, marvel at the colourfully-illustrated curtains and take a selfie at a photo station, our design studio has planned and commissioned this work in detail. Together with the museum team, it develops concrete design proposals. Little by little, a concept on paper becomes a space to experience. This is a very creative process that is often the subject of heated debate.
No exhibition concept, no design concept
The Museum für Kommunikation Frankfurt does not necessarily always work with the same designers. Before each exhibition, various firms are invited to take part in a design competition, the so-called pitch. This takes place about a year before the exhibition opens. In order for the designers to draw up an initial proposal, the curatorial team must do a lot of preparatory work and develop a concrete concept. The more concrete the template, the better the design ideas. The exhibition sections, key questions, target groups and educational objectives of the exhibition are then defined.
The most convincing presentation wins
Based on the written concept, the agencies then develop a proposal for the spatial presentation. For our exhibition, we invited five agencies whose profiles seemed most suited to the design of „Apropos Sex“: Good To Know (Cologne), Studio Ra (Berlin), Studio Erika (Kempten), Studio Neue Museen (Berlin/Halle) and Studio It’s About (Berlin). Fonts and font sizes, colour palettes and materials with symbolic content, furnishing designs and proposals for interactive stations – In the submissions to the design competition, the exhibition takes on visual form for the first time. For this reason, the day of the presentation is also an exciting date for the curatorial team.
Studio Erika emerged from the pitch as the winner of the competition. The colourful fruits displayed on the Expotizer contributed to this. Are you wondering who designed the exhibition? Check out Studio Erika’s website or visit their instagram feed!