The Art of Exhibition Labelling

My wonderful and talented (step) daughter, Agatha kindly joined my volunteer status for the exhibition and agreed to get into my head to decipher what look the exhibition graphics should have.
As a designer one is always aware of how difficult it can be to get the information from a client as to what they actually want. We all communicate in different ways and miss communication often happens, we are all too aware of that facial expression if our reading is slightly off course.
So it was really interesting to see how differently the process can be with a relative who can be on the same wave length and has the same visual language reference points, it is far easier.

Agatha had seen the space when visiting The Finishing Touch so knew the constraints and what the space was like.

The Finishing Touch Introduction Panel

 We had a title - Hot Heads - Inspirational British Millinery and a mission to create a cutting edge exhibition so wanted the graphics and look emulate this but also not scare off regular museum visitors. Colour schemes were looked at and agreed quickly then it was the typeface.

Working in an art college and having relations in Graphic Design I understand the nuances of type to a degree, so I am fortunate, often one forgets that we are in a privileged space as many don't and graphic designers walk a fine line. I loved the font that was purchased for the logo, others were not so convinced.

Hot Heads Graphics  - copyright Aggie Bainbridge

 I am so glad that they let us stick to our guns and that I was dogmatic in that this was right for the exhibition look, as it does work in putting across what the exhibition is about.

A great result down to a lot of very hard work and late night emails as the quality of images wasn't always right and some images were over deadline, a few more grey hairs!! A huge thank you to Agatha as she was incredible in her approach and determination and her wonderful designs.

Noel Stewart panel - design Aggie Bainbridge

New Exhibition Begins

' I hold in general a belief that courage is the shortest route to the good life. As a matter of fact I believe courage is synonymous with the good life. I see fears as normal and rational in my life, but fear does sometimes try to hold me back and try to stop me from actions that make life rich and rewarding. To live a fully engaged life I feel I need to exercise some measure of courage. Courage to me is a willingness to try.' Waltraud Reiner, Australian milliner and inspirational tutor.

These words echo exactly how I felt when I drove to Hat Works ready to begin the next installation. Knowing that 'sticking one's courage to the sticking spot' (Macbeth) is so important to help us grow and learn, and as I have been rereading the Twyla Tharp book again, 'What was the worse thing that could happen' my family would still love me.

empty cases at Hat Works, Stockport.

Deciding where we need to put the cases

Quite a strange feeling to have the technician ask me where I wanted the cases to be? I realise that I am not quite there with the confidence of curator just yet as I didn't have a vision for it all. Or was it that my occasional feeling that winging it does sometimes work and gives new ideas take over. Cases were moved, lights installed and stripes painted. Our only real dilemma was that three of the milliners hadn't sent their hats..........As I reflect on this now after a very successful opening it seems quite funny because it did work out and you realise that there is usually a solution somehow, even if it had been to borrow a certain hat from Leeds Museum Archive.

Phew we have some of the hats - William Chambers - Latex Flower Head Piece

Our stunning colours - courtesy of Graphic Designer Aggie Bainbridge

Hats delivery from Rachel Trevor-Morgan