studio
onomato

Exhibition context

The exhibition ‘On Display: How Graphic Design Shapes Us’ explores the extent to which design shapes our everyday lives and our perceptions. We encounter graphic design on packaging and screens, in advertising, wayfinding systems and public spaces. Its impact often goes unnoticed – even though design plays a part in determining how we read information, understand contexts, feel and act.

Drawing on a variety of design perspectives, the exhibition explores this social dimension of graphic design and examines the impact design can have, particularly against the backdrop of political, technological and social change.

 → Our spatial concept forms the conclusion of the exhibition. After visitors have made their way through the individual sections, this space provides a place where what they have seen is not simply concluded, but can be revisited, discussed and explored further in workshops.

Reflection as a spatial principle

The concept of reflection is directly translated into the space by a mirror. Its position, rotated from the horizontal, does not produce a static image. Depending on which side visitors enter the room from and where they move within it, different areas of the exhibition, people and objects become visible.

THE MIRROR DOES NOT MERELY REFLECT – IT ALTERS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GAZE, THE CONTENT AND ONE’S OWN POSITION.

The exhibits displayed on the panel, as well as the works created during the workshops, also become part of these shifting images. As a result, the mirror is understood less as an object and more as a spatial instrument.

Reflection through interaction

Beneath the mirror, a large communal table forms the social centre of the room. Whilst the mirror creates a visual reflection, a second level emerges at the table: topics are discussed, thoughts are shared, and ideas are developed together during the workshops.

The geometric cut-outs in the table tops deliberately break through the clear boundary of the table edge. They allow people to step closer into the space, alter the distances between individuals and, at times, break up the traditional face-to-face seating arrangement.

 → A clearly defined table surface thus gives rise to a more open space for various forms of interaction. Depending on the situation, people can work together, discuss, give presentations or walk around the entire surface. The table thus becomes not merely a piece of furniture, but a spatial medium for encounters and further collaboration.

Space as a tool

The design of the space is deliberately understated in terms of colour and saturation. The almost neutral background allows the ever-changing works, conversations and activities to take centre stage. At the same time, the space takes on a deliberately open, studio-like character.

Custom-designed light fittings define the large space, whilst movable seating units on castors can be repositioned within the room as required. Together with the whiteboard, this creates not a fixed layout but a system that accommodates different situations: a large workshop, collaborative work at the whiteboard, smaller discussion groups, or an exhibition space that can be viewed from all sides.

 → The spatial elements were not only designed but also, to a large extent, developed and manufactured in-house. As a result, construction, materials and production remain directly linked to the design.

FLEXIBILITY – STUDIO – IN-HOUSE MANUFACTURING – APPROPRIATION – EXHIBITION

Collaboration and Acknowledgements

The conception, planning and craftsmanship involved in creating this space were the result of close collaboration with Joel. From the initial idea through to the development of the individual elements and their manufacture, the project was developed jointly and, for the most part, carried out by us ourselves.

Special thanks go to Joel for the intensive collaborative process and the naturally shared responsibility between design and production.

We would also like to thank Jonas Deuter for the invitation, the trust placed in us and the opportunity to develop the final room of the exhibition, as well as David Belkirsch and Leon Plum for their support and collaboration during the implementation.

“On Display. How Graphic Design Shapes Us” is on display at the Museum of Applied Arts in Frankfurt.

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