For the Poznań Heritage Center, we developed the design and arrangement of the temporary exhibition “From Dreams to Poznań Gate” prepared in connection with the 10th anniversary of the ICHOT (Interactive History Center of Ostrow Tumski), known to all as Poznań Gate. The substantive concept was to divide the exhibition into four parts: a calendar of events (documentary character), characteristics of the facility (impression character), educational and event activities (impression character) and an invitation to interact with visitors (engaging part). Photographs documenting the facility and the events held there, mainly by Lukasz Gdak, were a very important part of the exhibition.
The starting point for the development of the visual identity of the exhibition was the ready creation of the Poznań Gate's anniversary poster. Our design decisions had to take into account its minimalist character, color scheme and graphic details. The content material developed by the client included: short texts in Polish and English, sets of dozens of photographs with the possibility to choose the most appropriate ones. The creative process resulted in a simple layout of the boards providing a modern setting for the photographs and texts. The key of the project is a simple form and a precisely selected color scheme combining three colors that impose the mood of the exhibition: energy (a combination of yellow and green), mystery (purple with a touch of dark blue) and harmony (blue with a subtle addition of emerald).
The final design of an exhibition is always determined by the space in which it is planned to be displayed. In this case, it was a luminous footbridge connecting the modernist building of the Poznań Gate and the Prussian fortress development - the Cathedral Lock. It is a space with beautiful views of the surrounding nature, but at the same time one of the most important transportation routes. We planned all parts of the exhibition on one side of the footbridge to allow for collision-free viewing. The boards made in modern dibond board material were hung at appropriate heights in accordance with accessibility rules. The last part is a board inviting visitors to interact: make wishes and share reflections related to the history of the Poznań Gate.
The design of the first board, which introduces the visitor to the topics covered in the exhibition, in this case became a graphic showcase reflecting the character of the entire exhibition. In a light cloud, we placed the protagonist of the exhibition - the building of the Poznań Gate - in a unique photographic relief combining the geometry of the solid with the naturalness of the surrounding nature. This evokes a sense of harmony and interest in the viewer, which is further enhanced by the energetic colors of the background. Of secondary importance is the title of the exhibition and the composition of the text, they filled the lower space of the board performing informative functions.
