Visual Prompt

Catch the eye! Spark the interest! Convey the information.

The lead imagery of a display has to be strong enough visually, to provoke the first connection, activating a desire to see just what that is about, then engage the viewer with enough interest to seek the curated educational script that completes the learning process.

As a child I was not a keen reader, tending only to look at books with pictures - until I found the book, The Swiss Family Robinson originally by Johann David Wyss. This was rather a foreboding book with an over the top word count, mine must have been one of the plagiarised extended versions, of which there were many apparently. 

Anyway back to the point, this version from my college library had the most engaging coloured pictures scattered throughout, not many but they certainly caught my eye and on a closer inspection, as they were both colourful and detailed, sparked an interest to learn more and to do that, I needed to read this book, or at least partly anyway. In the end I couldn't put it down, from memory there were around 300 pages and I read it all, and have been reading steadily ever since.

Have you ever been in a public space, civic building foyer, shopping centre and seen a scale model on display? If you havnt noticed, next time you see one, observe the scene. Every time I have seen this it has a crowd around it, as it is visually interesting. If the people find it engaging after an initial investigation, then they will move on to seek more information about the project. Their interest may vary, but they are all attracted to it in the environment by its visual stimulation.

The lead in to a good display is visual, then curating takes over to educate the viewing audience. Visual cohesion must flow through the whole display, both colour and texture are important to its outcome. To build a good display you cannot use a building block approach (see a good idea in another display and just add it to yours as you go). You will need to have a good design and plan, which is strongly cohesive and which you are confident in; this will give a successful and functional result. I always say, go as you plan not plan as you go!

I am not a curator, but I am an art director, so if you need help with your next exhibition then maybe its worth taking the next step and connecting with me to see how I may be able to help you or your organisation.