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NLA / Hopes & Fears
Client
National Library of Australia
Timeline
6 Months
Date
May 12, 2024
Exhibitions
Somewhere in many of our family trees is an ancestor who embarked on a long and challenging journey and eventually made it to Australia. Hopes and fears: Australian Migration Stories explores the stories of those who have made those journeys, and celebrates the contributions they have to Australia’s past and present.
The Opportunity
Working alongside the National Library project team and Design Community, Artikel Design developed a visual identity and exhibition graphics to reflect the unique objects and rich stories in the collection for this exhibition. This project included the conceptualisation and delivery of all 2D graphic and illustrative elements utilised throughout the exhibition space, the visual identity, as well as various design elements, such as entry animations, large-scale promotional graphics and the exhibition's book cover design. During the creative process, Artikel explored various mediums and illustrative styles to effectively visually communicate the stories of migration that make up Australia’s diverse heritage and society.
The Outcome
A key visual element of the exhibition visual identity draws on the notion of portrait photographs as moments in time that are captured to record significant events in our lives. Developing this concept as a narrative symbol, Nick introduced a composition made up of various eclectic photo frames as a design feature used across the exhibition space and visual identity. The transformation of photo frames from common household items into emotionally charged objects, implies the nature of the Hopes and Fears exhibition, uniting diverse and individual stories through the context of migration.
The visual identity additionally features an undulating ocean graphic motif designed to visually narrate the journey of immigrating to Australia. This motif decorates wall panels within the gallery space while functioning to separate different thematic topics and subtly enhance the wall text or timelines that outline the significant concepts or events of the exhibition context.
The Experience
The work created by Artikel amplifies the voices and journeys explored by the National Library in a layered and emotionally resonant way.
Conclusion
The work created by Artikel amplifies the voices and journeys explored by the National Library in a layered and emotionally resonant way. Through thoughtful visual storytelling and a considered conceptual approach, Artikel delivered a cohesive suite of design outcomes that both honour the migration narrative of Hopes and Fears and support the functional requirements of the exhibition.
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