design

Exhibition Design

The NBTC, the Sciencenter, and its consultants conducted front-end research to evaluate the prior knowledge, interest, and capabilities of the target audience. All exhibit concepts and prototypes have been evaluated for their effectiveness with visitors in order to achieve maximum educational value. Following this evaluation research, the Sciencenter hired Painted Universe Inc. (PUI) to develop design drawings for all of the exhibition components.

The exhibition design includes exhibits grouped thematically into six clusters: 1. Entrance, 2. Magnification, 3. Cell Sorters, 4. Cells in Action, 5.
Adventures of Tiny Things, and 6. Giant Blood Drop

Interspersed among the interactive exhibits are Nanobiotechnology Artifacts,
such as tools and products related to Nanobiotechnology research and
technology, to be selected for their relevance to the adjacent exhibits. For
example, in the Magnification exhibit cluster, artifacts featuring other forms of
microscopy (scanning electron and atomic force microscopes) will be
incorporated into the exhibit kiosks.

Reading Areas with bound and laminated books, mostly written for children, about scale, magnification, and biology are spread throughout the exhibition. Benches are present to encourage rest and reading, especially for the parents of the children who are exploring the exhibition more actively.

Throughout the exhibit there are several repeated Graphics Strategies to
display magnified images, interactive instructions and more technical information. Ladybugs, holding a magnifying glass are used as a friendly icon to frame magnified images. Instruction for interactive devices will be designed to be as simple as possible, in bright colors, and located next to the point of interaction. More technical information, with specific references to Nanobiotechnology will be mounted on plexiglass.

The proposed Materials Palette has been selected to be playful and yet not
over-stimulating. Most structural components are composed of panels made
with Baltic birch plywood that have been stained, painted or stamped with
whimsical images of real and abstract microorganisms. Interactive interfaces and signage are painted or printed in the brightest colors to stand out from the rest of the cabinetry. Aluminum posts attached to the plywood panels support fabric canopies where appropriate to create more intimate and sound-absorbing spaces. Graphics are screwed to the plywood. Some areas make use of frosted, patterned plexiglass (reminiscent of etched chips) to hint at the technological component of the exhibit. Laminates are used sparingly only where necessary for horizontal surfaces.

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