The challenge
In early 2020, I moved to Rome to begin a project as a design fellow at the Royal Academy of Spain in Rome. However, a few weeks later the lockdown began, blowing up our original plans.
In this new scenario, I had the chance to convert a physical exhibition which was impossible to carry out due to restrictions, into a digital format. I had previous experience working on digital exhibitions from my tenure at Yoke, Copenhagen, so I gladly accepted the challenge.
The first version of the platform was carried out in summer 2020, and it continued to evolve until late 2022.
An online video-art exhibition
The challenged consisted on designing and launching a video-art exhibitions featuring over 60 pieces from artist all over the world.
I was in charge of designing the whole experience, from research or concept development to prototyping, user validation and high-fidelity designs. Also, I led the project management and client relations. Working closely with two great developers, Gareth López and Sara Pinilla, we managed to launch the first version of the online exhibition in just 8 weeks.
In addition, I also took on the task of crafting the platform's brand identity. Inspired by the dark rooms where these pieces would typically be showcased, I developed a modest visual language with black and platinum gray as the primary colors, featuring a symbol that evokes the beams of a projector.
Navigating through the digital space
The concept behind the platform was to translate the experience of visiting a physical exhibition into the digital space. We didn't seek a direct translation, but rather aimed to deeply understand user behavior and its digital counterpart.
Therefore, we analyzed and recreated different aspects of the experience, such as entering the museum and stopping at the ticket booth; moving along the wall to view the pieces; approaching or stepping back to the wall to observe the details of a piece or the room's overall look; or watching a video-art installation while reading the pamphlet with the description of the work and the artist’s bio.
Round tables: a space for dialogue
One year after releasing the online exhibition, we were commissioned to expand the platform to host a series of round tables curated by the writer Remedios Zafra.
We created an area that adhered to the same principles of horizontal navigation and physical dynamics as the main exhibition. Through a menu, users can access different rooms dedicated to each round table. Inside every room, there is a recording of the round table discussion, an introduction to the topics covered, bios of the participants, essays related to the discussion topic, and a form that serves as an open mic feature, enabling users to interact with the speakers.
