V&A Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum was by far my favorite museum that we have visited. It has so much to see with easy navigation as well as interesting exhibits.
1. Critique the logo--Does the logo relate to the architecture, galleries and collections? Describe the overall essence/energy.
 I really loved the Victoria and Albert logo. At first I was a little bit confused by the A being part of the & sign. I couldn't really figure out how they fit together because the & sign doesn't have a straight line down on the side like an A does. The logo wasn't simple which was nice because it made my mind wonder and really think. It questioned my ability to see how these letters fit together and understand their meaning. After looking at it for a little longer, entering and exploring the museum and then re-examining the logo, I realized that the logo has a lot to do with the actual Museum. The V & A Museum had both classical pieces as well as modern and traditional pieces. The logo represents that as well. I see the V as being more modern and traditional and the & sign with the A being more classical and different. While walking through each exhibit I didn't really know what I was looking at all the time. For example, the Cartoon exhibit, I thought it was going to have actual cartoons but once I got into the exhibit, I had to walk around and try to figure out what each of the paintings represented and why they were so important. Also, walking through the Iron collection as well as the Islamic Middle East exhibit, I never really knew what each of the pieces were representing so I let myself stand in front of my favorite pieces to really think and examine each one individually. Once I was finished and went back outside to look at the logo, I felt as if the logo really represented all of the galleries, collections and architecture through out the museum. None of the galleries and collections were completely clear and understandable to me the second I walked into them, neither was the logo. I had to spend time examining and analyzing each piece of artwork and object to fully understand the significance, I also had to spend time examining the logo to understand the significance and what it stood for. The architecture of the museum was gorgeous. It wasn't just a one way path to all the exhibits but it also wasn't as confusing as something like the Science Museum. You were able to walk through it without getting too confused and never did I have to walk back through a complete exhibit without seeing anything new. The logo also has this aspect. The logo doesn't just have one pathway from the & to the A, it has a couple (or at least that's how I see it). You can also look at the logo in various different ways just like I'm sure not all of us students took the same pathway around the museum. Overall, this is a wonderful logo, lots of thought and time must have been put into it just like the museum and it's not just a simple, easy, understandable logo...it keeps your mind working and makes you think.


2. Describe your immediate impression(s) of walking into the Cast Courts. What educational purpose do these collections provide to visitors?
  ~My first thought as I walked into the Cast Courts was "oh my gosh, this is the most jam packed exhibit I've seen so far." I also had zero idea what the Cast Courts were so I was very confused when I walked in as well. Walking into an exhibit that was as overwhelming and busy as the Cast Courts were, made me less interested and pretty speechless at the beginning. I also was a bit creeped out because the whole exhibit looked like a million dead bodies laying on coffins and I didn't like that. But, I let myself explore and read all of the signs next to each object and after doing that I calmed down a lot and realized that each of the pieces really does have some significance, it's not just a lot of dead bodies laying around. Additionally, 46 A and B was not as overwhelming because there was construction going on with those Cast Courts and overall there just wasn't as many objects in that room. But, after thinking about it, it made that gallery less interesting because there was a lot less to see. As I continued to walk around the exhibit I wondered what sort of educational purpose these collections provided me with. Each of the Cast Courts provide some historical significance and show a different type of art then I am used to. When I think of Art, I many times think of drawings, paintings and sculptures. These Cast Courts were a different form of art showing people from the past who were very important back in those times and they were depicted in a way different than "normal art" in my mind, which made it seem as if these people had a lot of significance and made an impact on the people back when they were alive.I think another aspect of the educational purpose was just in general to show visitors who important people were from Italy, Spain and Northern Europe. Overall, at first the Cast Court exhibit really freaked me out and was incredibly overwhelming but after spending more time in the exhibit I became less anxious and really enjoyed seeing each cast and learning who each person was.

3. Do the icons/symbols represented in the Isotype exhibition have greater personality than the international system of signs? Elements to consider: legibility, color, dimension, mood, etc. Does this method of information graphics (text + image rather than just image) communicate with a broader range of individuals?
 ~While first walking into the Isotypes exhibit I really didn't understand what I was looking at and couldn't depict what each object was trying to tell us. After asking a few questions and re-looking at each of the pictures, I finally began to understand this exhibit. I liked this exhibit because it was very different than other ones we've seen in the V & A museum as well as the other museums. I do believe that the icons/symbols represented in this exhibition had greater personality than the international system of signs. For example, there was an icon/symbol for many different activities like tennis, skiing, hiking, soccer, as well as a soldier. I've never seen anything of this sort in our international system of signs. One of the objects within this exhibit that got my attention the most was the Crisis and Blast Furnaces. They were showing the number of furnaces that worked and that didn't work in March 1932 in the USA, France, Germany, Great Britain, Belgium and the Soviet Union. For the furnaces that were working they showed a picture of a furnace that was colored red with a flame inside and for the furnaces that weren't working they were seen as white with no flame inside. I liked these icons/symbols because it was really descriptive and really detailed. It was very legible, without even seeing the description I knew exactly what it was trying to show. They also chose the right colors, what other color besides red would depict a fire that well? Overall, I think these icons/symbols show more personality because they have accessories (like all of the sports characters), different positions (they aren't just standing straight up and down) and a lot of color. Additionally, I believe that the method of information graphics (text + image) communicates with a broader range of individuals. I am more of a visual and auditory learner so if I were only to see an image, I would definitely have a lot of questions about what I am seeing and would most likely be confused. By having text in addition to the picture, I am able to see exactly what the icon/symbol is trying to present without being confused. I'm sure that many people out there aren't only visual learners so by only seeing a picture, many people might not understand what the object was trying to represent. The text and the image help reinforce the importance of one or the other and allows everyone, no matter who they are or how they like to learn, to understand exactly what is trying to be shown.



4. Compare and contrast a pattern from the Ironwork collections with a pattern from the Islamic Middle East collections. Elements to consider: figure/ground, color, repetition, scale, rhythm, mood, etc.
 ~ The pattern from the Ironwork collection that I chose and from the Islamic Middle East collection are very different in every way. I am a very outgoing and energetic person so the Islamic Middle East object interested me a lot more due to the color, repetition and mood of the object. The Ironwork collection (pictured below) that I chose is definitely interesting and does have attitude to it. It seems to be just one straight stroke through the whole piece of work but it is curved in and out and wrapped around each other. This ironwork piece makes me feel more calm and not too overwhelmed because of the simple color of just black and contrasts the whiteness behind it causing me to really focus on just that object. Although the ironwork piece is still very busy with its curving and turning, it doesn't overwhelm me, doesn't confuse me, doesn't make my eyes go crazy, but allows me to just look at it and feel a sense of unflustered, composed and relaxed feeling while looked at this object. On the other hand, the piece from the Islamic collection is incredibly overwhelming and definitely not calming to the eye. At points I got dizzy looking at it. But, this is something that I like. It keeps me interested and it keeps me thinking. I always wonder how the artist came up with this design and why they decided to paint this object they way that they did. I like this object because of the busy colors, the repetition and the mood that it gives off. I like the soft colors of red, light blue and dark blue. The artist could have easily used many more colors but it just would have made the design that much more confusing. I also like the mood that this object gave off. When I looked at this, I felt pretty calm and collected as well as a little bit nervous and confused. The repetition of the design helped me feel calm and relaxed but the amount of detail within the design and the rhythm got me a little confused and for some reason nervous. It made me feel as if I was late to something. The design was repeated over and over again throughout the piece but because there were so many intricate details within the light blue leaves for example I felt nervous, I can't really explain why, I just think there was so much to look at and so much to see. Although the ironwork piece was a lot less confusing, simple and not overwhelming, I still liked this Islamic piece much better. It made me happier and allowed me to analyze the art whereas with the Ironwork there wasn't much for me to analyze, it was just a sculpture that seemed to have one flowing line throughout the whole thing. Overall, the symmetrical repetition of the Islamic work keeps my mind running and allows me to come up with my own interpretations of why the artist chose to paint this object in the way that it was painted. I really really enjoyed both of these exhibits but especially the Islamic collection because of the character and attitudes shown throughout the exhibit.
           

5. How do the elements of the Underground (identity/architecture) contrast to the Metro transportation in Madison? Feel free to discuss logo, color, bus stops, signage, mapping, etc.
 ~After finally living in London and feeling comfortable using the Tube now, I realize how easy the Underground system is and how annoying/difficult the Madison transportation is. In relation to the logo, the Madison Metro is so boring. It also looks old and grungy. Although the Underground logo is very simple in itself, you can see some character in it. It only uses two colors but the blue part that says Underground, I see that as being the actual Underground Tube, with the red circle around it representing London and the lines/routes it takes to get "around" London. With the Madison Metro logo, I can't find any relation to Madison's transportation system and the actual logo itself. Although the Metro does have orange, yellow, blue and white and the Underground only has red and blue, I don't see the necessity of having as many colors as the Metro logo does because what do those yellow and orange lines represent? The area that the buses travel around? No, because that just means nothing. Sometimes the simpler the logo, the more interesting, which is what I see with the Underground because I can actually form some sort of hypothesis about the Underground logo whereas with the Metro I can't seem to form a single one. Additionally, the Madison Metro is super confusing. I don't know how to get from one place to another unless it's the 80 bus or I've looked it up before leaving my house. With the Underground, you can go to the station and have no idea how to get where you are going but then looking at all of the maps and signs that are used within the Underground stations, you will most likely never get lost. It tells you exactly where to go and exactly how to get there. Coming from Minnesota with no sort of transportation like New York or London, I was terrified having to take the Tube. But after seeing how easy and basically dummy proof it is, I was never scared and haven't got lost since. In Madison, I have taken the wrong bus numerous times and also taken the bus the wrong way various times, which sucks so much. So overall, the Madison Metro logo shows no significance to me, I don't understand it, the colors are worthless, the signage is poor and the navigation/mapping of the routes is incredibly difficult and confusing. In contrast with the Underground, which is incredibly easy navigation, the logo is simple but understandable, easy to find my way around and isn't confusing at all. 


6. Provide a short description of your favorite object from the collections. Please provide label information such as name, date, origin, etc. Why would you return to this object for greater contemplation?
 ~Although I was incredibly confused by the Isotype exhibit, my favorite object was definitely from that collection. Like I mentioned before, my favorite object or icon/symbol was the Crisis and Blast Furnaces as well as the different sports players symbols. The sports players symbols are part of the Isotype "Picture Dictionary" from 1930-1940 and is the original working reference file of pictograms designed by Gerd Armtz in collaboration with Otto Neurath. I really like these sports players because I've never seen them before in the International System of Signs. They were also very easily identified as to which sport they were depicting so it was easy on the eye. I would return to this object for greater contemplation because I am still unsure of where one would use these icons. Would they be used as an entrance sign to a field on which the sport was played? Would they be used next to a person who plays that sport or does that activity? I am still completely unsure of where those icons would be used. Additionally, I really liked the Crisis and Blast Furnaces in the Isotype Exhibit from March 1932 which showed the amount of furnaces working and the amount of furnaces not working in 6 different places (USA, France, Germany, Great Britain, Belgium and the Soviet Union). I really liked this object because it was pretty detailed for what it was actually showing. Each furnace represented 25 furnaces, so for example in the USA there were 12 symbols of furnaces representing 300 furnaces total. I thought it was interesting how the working furnaces were colored red with a burning fire inside and the furnaces that weren't working were just shown as plain white. For being such a simple object (a furnace) the icon was really detailed and the color was chosen wisely (red for fire). I think I learned a lot from this museum and especially this exhibit. I learned that first impressions can't mean everything because at first I really didn't like this exhibit, I didn't understand it and I just wasn't interesting. But after taking a little more time to examine each icon/symbol and ask numerous questions, I began to really really enjoy this exhibit and each separate icon/symbol. (pictures are the same as question 3)

Overall, this was definitely my favorite museum we've visited so far.

Question 3..

Somehow my whole question 3 got deleted when I posted this blog so I'll retype it here...

3. Shop / Cafe

Describe how the shop and cafe extend or compromise the brand? Do products (merchandise) reinforce the brand?

~ Thank goodness that there was a cafe in the museum because I am always hungry. It was also pretty tiring walking up and down the stairs and in and out of all the exhibits, so having a snack break was definitely needed. As I walked into the cafe, I thought the title wall and the text was incredibly intriguing as well as in relation to the content of the museum. The text of "Cafe" was the same as the Science Museum logo which was scientific and futuristic looking, definitely catching one's eye. So with such an interesting entry way and text face I thought the food and drinks were going to be that interesting. But boy was I wrong. The food and drink choices were incredibly bland with only a few choices here and there. I definitely think the cafe compromised the brand because in my mind it was completely contradictory. The brand was so intriguing and interesting whereas the food was bland and boring. On the other hand, I think the shop definitely extended the brand. The shop had the same font as the logo of the museum as well as the cafe and the merchandise did not upset at all! It definitely fit with the content of the museum and reinforced the brand. The shop had many little trinkets and souvenirs which represented different things within the museum. For example I saw DNA kits as well as many plastic toys (representing the Plasticity and DNA exhibits). So although the cafe was disappointed and did not live up to the brand's expectations, the shop definitely did and I would consider going back to the museum just to look around the shop once again. 

Science Museum

Last week I had the opportunity to go to London's wonderful Science Museum. I usually really enjoy Science Museums because of all the wonderful exhibits to look at and many times the different activities you can participate in. I was really excited to go to London's museum because I have always had the thought in my mind that London has such wonderful museums and up until the science museum, London did..I will have to admit, the Science Museum did not impress me too much unfortunately..

1. Critique the logo--Does it relate to the mission / subject matter / content? --Is it appropriate for the audience?

 ~ Overall, I was very impressed by the Science Museums logo.When I think of science, I always think about the future and how scientists are always doing research and experiments to figure out new discoveries that will be implemented in our future. I, of course, understand that scientists research things from the past but in my head I think more of the future and what's going to happen. I thought that this logo related to the content of the museum, not only because they had an exhibit on the future but also because throughout the whole museum, the writing and type faces were more futuristic and scientific looking. Although for each exhibit the title walls and fonts were different, the main fonts (like for the cafe and shop and welcoming/exiting fonts) were written in basically the same type of scientific, futuristic looking font. I thought that the logo was in a way appropriate for the audience but also in a way not the most appropriate for the audience. The logo was written on 3 lines with the I and the E intertwining each other and combining to make the E. For a little child, this could be incredibly confusing and unreadable. They might try and read it as different words or phrases if they aren't that old, when it should be read and seen as one word in a more artistic way. On the other hand, I think it is appropriate for the audience because it is creative, understandable and fits with the content and subject matter of the museum which older visitors would appreciate and interpret the correct way. 

2. Navigation--Is there a clear path to exhibitions? --Do the signs adequately navigate users?--Does the museum plan allow for several paths?--Is the handout/map legible for navigation?

~ In all honesty, I was not happy with the navigation through out the museum. I don't mean to be harsh but I felt as if I could absolutely not find my way around. When I first got to the museum I walked to the right to check out those exhibits and ended up being restricted to only the back exhibits of the museum. The only way out of the back exhibits were to walk all the way back down to the first floor, all the way through the main floor exhibit and then all the way to the other side of the museum. I figured when in the back of the museum there would be a way to see the front exhibits, but there was absolutely no way. I also felt as if the exhibits were scattered. In the back of the museum, they were organized because there was just one exhibit per floor and a sign when you got to the top of the stairs, but having only 3 exhibits in the whole back of the museum felt a bit boring. On the other hand, I thought the signs did adequately navigate. This might sound contradictory, but I am talking more about the signs to the toilets, fire exits, to the rights/lefts and to the cafe/shops. I don't think the signs navigated well to each exhibit, but to everything else in the museum I thought it was great. Especially to the Listening Post. There was no way we were going to get lost. There were arrows for a good stretch of the hallway and on the walls all the way until you were literally in a seat in the Listening Post. The museum did not allow for several paths in my opinion. Each floor was rather large with only a few exhibits on each floor. When you entered an exhibit, the only way to exit was to walk all the way back through the exhibit, which was quite boring since you already saw the whole exhibit and it would have been nice to go straight to another one. In contrast, I thought the map was good at showing me which exhibits the museum offered because they were numbered and titled on each floor, but I do not think the map was successful in helping me find my way. My favorite title wall was when we first entered the museum with the hand "holding" the sign (picture below). Overall, I was not impressed by the navigation throughout the museum unless I went to the museum only for the cafe, shop, toilet and fire exits. 

3. Shop / Cafe

Describe how the shop and cafe extend or compromise the brand? Do products (merchandise) reinforce the brand?

4. Display cases--Compare and contrast the display cases throughout the museum.--Do they function to protect? How is text integrated into the display?

 ~ I thought this museum offered a variety of different display cases throughout the exhibits. For example, in the DNA exhibit the display cases looked like different cells and DNA strands whereas in the plasticity exhibit the display cases were just glass cases protecting the objects inside. The display cases definitely functioned to protect because while in the Psychoanalysis Exhibit, I was looking at a shadow of red objects put together and when a light was flashed on it, a shadow formed on the wall of two people (it was really awesome). But as I was standing there, a woman was trying to take a picture and must of stepped to close to the glass because all of a sudden an alarm went off, which served the purpose of us backing away from the displays. Although there was the alarm, the display case did not block our view of the exhibit and objects at all which was a good aspect to the museum. I like to call it "Secret Security (because we didn't know there was an alarm but overall it was doing a great job of protecting the displays)". In the back of the museum with the more futuristic exhibits, the display cases were more creative and not simple whereas in the front of the museum in exhibits like Plasticity, Psychoanalysis and Materials, the display cases were just simple glass boxes. In other regards, text was integrated into the displays very well and also poorly in different exhibits. For example, in the Materials exhibit I thought the text was awesome. The title wall that said Materials was really cool because each letter had it's own unique twist and design to it, which related to the content in the exhibit. On the signs leading to the Future and DNA exhibits, those texts were really interesting as well because they represented the font that was used in the Science Museum logo looking more futuristic and creative. On the other hand, the text throughout the exhibits many times were very unsuccessful. In the Psychoanalysis exhibit, the text was barely found. There were very tiny plaques that had incredibly small writing saying what the case displayed but it was very hard to find and sometimes did not exist so many times I had no idea what I was looking at. The only exhibit that really got my attention with the text was the DNA exhibit because on large glass billboards like walls, the text was written very large in more natural colors with bold writing. I didn't have to actively seek out where the text was or what the exhibit was about because the text caught my eye right as I walked into the exhibit. 

5. Exhibits--Describe the details of your favorite exhibit--Consider color, layout, content, objects. Why is this memorable?

 ~ I am having a hard time deciding which exhibit was my favorite. Overall I think I would have to chose the Listening post or the DNA exhibit (as I'm sure you can tell). I was really disappointed though because I was really looking forward to seeing the Psychoanalysis Exhibit since I am really interested in that, and when I got there it completely disappointed me because of the lack of displays and inconsistent, bland text style. I liked the Listening Post just because I have never heard anything like that. It was a bit weird though that you could listen to what random people were saying. I'll stick with the DNA exhibit. I thought this exhibit was genius. I loved the display cases because they were silver and the writing was little holes within the case and each hole was a light which spelled a word (what the case was about). Also, the different glass billboard like walls throughout the exhibit were very large with big, bold writing on each of them attracting my attention. There were also different activity posts that you could explore with and see what each one had to offer. The layout was perfect because there was a lot to see but it was not overwhelming. The silver cell-like displays were more to one side with the glass billboard walls spread out pretty much through out the exhibit. I thought the content was interesting. It wasn't just straight up facts about DNA but rather it said "I, you, we, us" to bring the point that DNA is what we are made up of, each and every one of us. I also liked how the DNA exhibit was at the top of the museum along with the future exhibit. It made it seem like there was still more to be discovered and more to learn. It also made it seem more important (meaning that us as humans are the most important) and also that we have a lot to learn about ourselves. This was very memorable to me because of the silver cell shaped display cases. They were the most creative I have seen and the only exhibit I can truly remember. 

6. Facts--What critical information did you learn from your visit?

 ~ One of the most critical pieces of information I learned from my visit was how important it is to have a good navigation system throughout any museum or theatre or anywhere that visitors walk around and explore. Not knowing where to go or even where to begin is really frustrating and overwhelming for many people. I did not care much about the scientific facts throughout the museum but what I did care about was finding my way around and not feeling completely lost through out the whole museum. So by having a helpful navigation system, this can help make visitors feel more comfortable, feel welcomed and also feel as if they want to come back because they knew their way around and were able to see what they wanted to see. Another piece of information that I learned was to never join or at least not to say anything bad or rude at all in an unrestricted chat room because you never know who will be listening and who will be stealing what you are saying! That listening post freaked me out! I also learned that it is incredibly important to recycle. I've always recycled at home but only because my parents made me. At school I never recycled because I just didn't care. Seeing how much energy and waste and money recycled products can save has really changed my mind on recycling. And also seeing how many everyday materials are from recycled products was intriguing. Overall, this visit had it's ups and downs. I don't think I will be visiting this museum that many more times throughout my stay in London, but I will definitely visit it at least once again before I leave. I did have an enjoyable time though walking around and seeing what this museum had to offer! I just wouldn't say it was my favorite museum...but I will go back for the listening post...