Objects of The Future
PGDip Graphic Design - 2021
Overview and Objectives
The Science Museum holds an archive of over 200, 000 objects which is an impossible amount to have on display at any one time. Yet these objects say so much about who we are. The Science Museum has a digitised database open for the public to browse. However, this relies on individuals knowing what is already in the collection when searching which has led to a small number of objects receiving a large number of visits. So how can the objects that are in the background be brought to the foreground, and the stories of these objects retold in an experiential way allowing for further discovery and meaningful browsing?
The design solution should encourage new forms of exploration which will bring delight to the experience. It should also open a space for the curious mind to ask questions about what the collection says about who we are and where we are headed.
Outcome
The final outcome of this brief is a process of engagement tool which encourages individuals to use The Science Museum Archive as a tool for speculative thinking and future object idea generation through a narrative approach.
Speculative Thinking, Branding & Visual Identity, Writing
Overarching Strategy
To research outside the field of design and apply design thinking to my findings to visualise my discovery on a particular part of the archive – which will in turn enable me to tell the stories of objects which have gone unnoticed and encourage the audience to discover more.
Positioning Statement
In this project, I took a narrative storytelling approach to the archive with the idea of exploring ways of fostering a sense of ownership, belonging and attachment to it. The archive can be used as a way of challenging our relationships to objects, even a way to encourage conversations about how the objects in our past can be a way to explore our future. Using a hybrid approach to captivate an audience and entice interaction and participation is a way in to exploring artefacts through meaningful experience.
The Process
This is how the user journey will look throughout the process
The elements within the process
Invitation Letter
The invitation letter is the first interaction participants will have with the workshop and Objects of the Future. The letter will invite participants to take part in the workshop and outline their role in designing/inventing/discovering an object and its future purpose. This letter aims not only to introduce the workshop, and outline the task, but to engage and encourage people to feel that they have ownership of it and belong to a future they could create.
Future Scenario Card
This would be a card which outlines a future world scenario to set the scene for the participants. This would be the world in which they would be responding to in the workshop.
Future Object Cards
These cards will hold objects on them from the archive. They will not have the name of the object or any information about it. Simply a visual of the object.
Question & Command Cards
Q: These question cards are used as a tool in the workshop to encourage the participants to think about the object, its use, its origin, its story in response to the future world/scenario they have been assigned. They can be used as many or as little times as the participants need and act as prompts for speculative thinking.
C: Command cards act in a similar way to the question cards. They can be used when the participants feel they need them, they may want to use them throughout or only when they feel stuck on how to progress the use or story of the object. The commands should encourage the participants to think about the object differently.
Final Outcome Object
After running the process with a group of people, the outcome resulted in unique object for our future.
Visual Elements
Visual Toolkit
A simplified selection of abstract objects gestures to the idea of speculative thinking around the archive objects.
Degular Typeface
This typeface has elements in it which add personality to the cards and look almost futuristic with one foot still in this world. It works for both the display and body of the content. All the lettering will be embossed and textured, meaning that when the individuals run their fingers over the card, they are feeling the words of the object they are holding. There will be a direct relationship being made between person and object.
