MUSEUM OF TOMORROW

exhibition concept, design and creative direction

LOCATION: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Building designed by Santiago Calatrava.

DURATION: Permanent exhibition. Opened on December 19, 2015.

VISITORS: 3.500,000 people in first 3 years.

CLIENT: Roberto Marinho Foundation.

ROLE: I was the creative director for the visual identity, branding and permanent exhibition of the museum. I worked closely with the client, curator and more than 40 Brazilian and international scientist developing the museum program as well as the exhibition narrative. The project was developed by ORB, a studio which I founded and am the creative director.

TEAM: Sean Callen: senior graphic design and art direction / Coca Albers: graphic design / Carlos Mauricio Rodriguez: 3D design / Mona Kim: experiential media consultant.

The Museum of Tomorrow is a new science museum that uses new exhibition experiences, technologies and media to present challenges to life and the world and explore visions about the future. The museum sits on a pier overlooking the Guanabara Bay and is integral part of the urban renewal process of Rio's downtown and port areas.

The permanent exhibition delves into the our origins, our identity, the effects of our actions on the planet and offers possible scenarios for the next 50 years. The exhibit is organized around five main areas: Cosmos, Earth, Anthropocene, Tomorrow and Us. Each area is anchored by a large-scale iconic installation that symbolizes the area's main idea. Each of these spaces houses an immersive experience that addresses the content from a sensorial perspective. Supporting these experiences, interactive and interpretive exhibitions provide in-depth scientific information about each topic.

As the core of the museum is about the future, information about the current state of affairs is provided and is be constantly updated. A single interactive software system was conceived to provide a personalized experience remembering visitors previous visits and interests and suggesting new content.

The museum is located in Rio's revitalized port area.

Building designed by Santiago Calatrava who was inspired by local bromeliads.

COSMOS: This large-scale iconic sculpture made of black corian evokes the mystery of our existence.

Immersive 360* media experience inside the Cosmos sculpture.

The experience reveals that we are made of the same matter, are intricately connected with the universe and our origins.

EARTH: 3 glowing and immersive elements explore the dimensions of our existence: matter, life and thought.

The cubes' surfaces show the vitality of the Earth in 188 backlit images, a representation of DNA code as animated cutout letters, and the complexity of human brain activity in LED media.

A series of tables with interpretive graphics, animations, interviews to scientists and interactive stations provide in-depth information about key content.

Climate: Poetic art installation, inspiring video and soundtrack explain the changing nature of the Earth's climate.

Ecosystems: Organic multimedia environment reveal the interconnectedness of our biodiversity through projection mapping, documentary images and video, interpretive graphics and interactive game.

Cultures: A forest-like space of 40 thematic columns express the diversity of the world's cultures through a kaleidoscope of documentary images and sounds.

ANTHROPOCENE: A monumental installation of 6 large tilted totems represent the new geological era created by human actions.

The audiovisual shows how we are radically changing our planet becoming almost a geological force.

Real time data and up-to-date information punctuates the audiovisual.

The totems are covered in high resolution LED panels and are synchronized to create an impactful audiovisual environment.

Carved inside the totems, documentary videos and interpretive graphics show evidence of the Anthropocene's causes and effects.

TOMORROW: A dynamic glowing element zigzags in the space creating three different spaces to explore future scenarios.

The Future of Society: The first space bring to light future social scenarios related to population, consumption, cities and inequality.

Media disclose real time and current information while a central table with interactive screens examine our ecological footprint.

The Future of the Planet: Irregular media surfaces show the impact of climate change with possible scenarios for the world, Brazil and Rio.

The Future of Humans: 36 screens show the latest scientific and technological discoveries and pose ethical questions about who we are. A central interactive game looks into our openness to new science and technology.

US: An open wooden sculpture invites visitors to meditate about the future we would like to build and live in.

Inside this space, visitors can interact with the light and sound installation and gather around the centrally located historical object.