Role: Led the digital project from concept to execution, coordinating cross-functional teams and managing stakeholder communications.
User Research: Used user flow data from previous exhibitions to identify areas for quick flow with passive content and areas for reflection with interactive content.
Innovation & Outcomes: The exhibition used digital displays in different sizes, I created guidelines to standardize the text sizes regardless of the screen size.
The Moon was a temporary exhibition that took place at National Maritime Museum in London between July 19, 2019 and January 5, 2020.
Beyond recounting the achievements of the Apollo space programme, The Moon exhibition charted humanity’s fascination for our cosmic companion with a dialogue between science and the arts in 180 objects spanning 2,500 years across cultures and continents.
The exhibition revealed the Moon as a mirror to humankind’s obsessions, endeavours and passions, but also that in the millennialong quest to reach another world, what truly mattered was not the journey, but the return.
Project overview
The exhibition’s design was strategically developed to integrate a diverse array of objects into a cohesive narrative, harmoniously blending scientific artifacts with the spatial environment while promoting a contemplative atmosphere. This narrative coherence was achieved through careful design choices that utilized a spectrum of colors—from deep, sky-like hues to vibrant tones reminiscent of the 1960s—enhancing thematic depth and visitor engagement.
Material selections were also pivotal, drawing inspiration from historical space agency designs, such as the Réseau plate crosses featured in Apollo Mission imagery. These elements not only underscored the scientific authenticity of the exhibit but also enriched the visual and educational experience, reflecting the era’s technological and design innovations.
UI Design
Consistency with 2D Design
The design of the exhibition was done by Iris Butcher, who set the foundational aesthetic. Building upon this, I developed a comprehensive set of digital guidelines tailored to her design proposal. This strategic framework ensured that all digital elements of the exhibition— from interactive displays to digital signage—maintained a cohesive and consistent visual and thematic experience that complemented the physical environment seamlessly.
- Font Usage:
For a clean and modern aesthetic, we utilized ‘Futura’ as our primary typeface across the exhibition’s digital platforms. This included using bold weights for main titles, light weights for descriptive texts, and uppercase formatting for interactive buttons, ensuring legibility and stylistic consistency. - Color Strategy:
Blue served as the foundational color, symbolizing the thematic core of the exhibition. To delineate the four distinct sections, I strategically implemented varied color schemes, using the primary blue to frame the main interface while employing section-specific hues for button highlights and background accents. All main screen texts were rendered in blue to maintain uniformity, with black texts reserved for pop-up interactions to enhance readability. - Color Treatment:
We opted for a minimalist approach, utilizing flat colors devoid of textures, gradients, or shadows. This choice not only modernized the visual presentation but also facilitated a clearer and more focused user experience. - Shape Design:
The geometric basis of our design was rooted in squares and rectangles, which framed content and interactive elements with clarity and precision, reinforcing the structured narrative flow of the exhibition
- Background Image Treatment:
To enhance visual interest and consistency across the exhibition’s digital attract screens, background images were selectively employed. I incorporated registration marks reminiscent of those seen in Moon landing footage to unify the design and emphasize section-specific themes. These marks were color-coordinated with the respective section colors, reinforcing the visual identity and navigational cues of each area. - Frame Design:
All digital content was framed to create a cohesive look and improve content hierarchy. The main content frames were blue, aligning with the exhibition’s primary color scheme, while pop-up windows featured white frames, matching the labels for clarity and visual continuity.
Consistency with the space
In designing the digital components of the exhibition, meticulous attention was paid to scale and context to ensure optimal engagement and visual harmony. All elements were crafted proportionally, utilizing a percentage-based design methodology. This approach guaranteed that the digital content seamlessly integrated with the physical environment, maintaining aesthetic consistency and enhancing user interaction across various display formats.
Proportions for a 67’’, 48” and 21” screen
Accessibility
- Physical Access:
To ensure inclusivity and ease of use, all primary interactive elements were strategically positioned in the lower half of the screens. This placement was designed to enhance accessibility for all visitors, including those who may use wheelchairs or have other mobility challenges. - Visual Access:
In commitment to visual accessibility, the minimum font size was set at 16px, providing clear legibility. The contrast ratios for text versus background were meticulously calibrated between 7.28:1 and 21:1, with black text over white backgrounds, ensuring that all information is easily discernible for visitors with varying degrees of visual acuity. - Audio Access:
Addressing auditory access, all audio presentations were accompanied by subtitles and interpreted in British Sign Language (BSL), catering to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. This comprehensive approach guarantees that all visitors can engage fully with the multimedia content.
