Project Overview
My project explores how we could bring the V&A archives to life through an immersive ‘V&R’ experience in a bid to encourage customers and visitors back to the V&A museum to celebrate its 170th anniversary. My concept uses what the V&A already has and takes this from out of behind closed doors in their expansive archives to utilise this as a cost effective way to create a version of one of it's hugely successful blockbuster exhibitions. Visitors can interact with Virtual archive material in a new fun and exciting way where they are encouraged and guided around the experience by familiar faces of the icons that have played a huge role in the V&A's history.
Project Brief
The retail sector has been hit extremely hard as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and for museums like the V&A that rely heavily upon self generated funds it has been particularly challenging. As designers we must consider this whilst also working with what they have already and current plans as well as future plans they have and are putting in place in order to be sustainable and profitable events for them to host. In my design I considered all of these points to address the V&A brand whilst also looking at a fun approach to the brief of ‘the future of retail’ and how we might begin to embrace technology to enhance these environments further and attract customers back in a post-pandemic world.
Design Rationale
Question the relationship between physical and digital retail design
Encourage new learning opportunities for visitors
Create a design which reflects the V&A and is appropriate for their 170th anniversary
Design Response
My response to this project stemmed from an earlier group project with another second year Interior Design student and a fashion marketing student. This concept originated from the well-known question on 'who would you invite to a dinner party?' focusing on three main icons from the V&A's collections to dine with. I took this further by still including the element of the experience with icons but took the opportunity to further the potential for learning and interactivity elements I felt the project would heavily benefit from. My response was to celebrate and promote the cultural and conservation work the V&A already does behind closed doors to protect items of art for future generations to enjoy. Visitors are encouraged to explore an archive-like interior enhanced with VR headsets (branded 'V&R' for my experience) where they can interact with boxes and drawers triggering virtual effects in the virtually enhanced environment. Visitors may open a drawer filled with costumes and David Bowie may climb out! This provides a fun yet informative experience for all visitors to enjoy.
Image Gallery
