Exposition research (part I) - colour and layout

To display my work in the most professional manor possible for the showcase at the end of the semester, I must first acknowledge the standard in which work is displayed, the materials that are used and the layout of pieces which are chosen to be presented.

I will be researching the layouts, materials and standards used in museums, exhibitions and conventions to make effective use of my 4' x 7' allocated space. Firstly, I will be looking at unique or helpful examples of exhibited works from other places of education, focusing on the use of colour and the layout in which works are displayed.

Colour:

http://www-ah.st-andrews.ac.uk/img/landingpages/sml/WelcomeMUSA.JPG

This is some of the exhibited works at the University of St Andrews. What drew me to this is example is the manor in which the work is highlighted using colour.

The work in the foreground (yellow highlights) is complimented by the blue, making it look more neat and clear. The white background (orange highlights) contrasts with the blue foreground, making the foreground stand out more clearly and in turn, drawing more focus towards the foreground from those whom observe it.

The text (red highlights) uses a basic and elegant font and blends with the background colour, adding a professional standard to these exhibited pieces.

Layout:

http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.191574!/image/IMG_5935small.jpg

What brought my attention to this piece from the University of Sheffield is the layout in which this work is displayed. 

This layout has multiple smaller framed images on the right, taking up only a third of the provided space and a single larger piece on the left which takes up tow thirds of the provided space.

The labels used to highlight these pieces are small and simple, displaying a professional standard of work and careful planning. 

The benefit of the this layout is that it can be used as a possible layout for my own work at the showcase. I can use the space on the right (pink highlights) for production work i.e. sketches, digital paintings or early production 3D works, whilst on the left, I can use one of my best finished pieces to display my abilities/skills at their best, thus, complimenting the production work on the right.

What have I learned from this research and how does it benefit my work for the showcase at the end of the semester?
I have learned that the selection of colours, both foreground and background, bares an influence on the aesthetic of my work and how others will view and judge it. Using a simple font to advertise the title or aim of my project adds a professional standard to my works and my project as a whole. Descriptive labels provides viewers/observers with a more detailed insight to my works. The small size of the descriptive labels could help prevent focus being drawn from the pieces I chose to display. Finally, this will allow me to pay closer attention to colour selection and encourage me to experiment with various layout possibilities, so that when it comes to the showcase, I will be fully prepared.

Next steps:

• Framing
• Shapes 
• Layout possibilities (sketches/digital paintings)