Ugly Studios Ltd | Orford Ness – Island of Secrets Exhibition

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Brief

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve was a top-secret, military site for much of the 20th Century. National Trust commissioned Ugly Studios to design an exhibition about the Ness’ hidden past. To add to the challenge, the site is only accessible by boat, and the displays have to be able to survive the occasional flood!

Idea

This exhibition is both a celebration of British inventiveness and a reflection on the horrors of war. Wherever possible it uses the words of former staff and archive photographs to tell the story. These recollections are set alongside a timeline of world events from World War One through to the Cold War. The graphic displays were designed to look practical and pragmatic, made from scaffolding and wood. They are augmented by low-tech models and interactives and a range of objects that even includes an inert nuclear bomb. Supporting video content can be watched on smart phones or tablets.

Result

The National Trust use the exhibiton as an introduction to the site. The exhibition has been really well received by the public. Visitors have commented on the 'sympathetic, sophisticated and atmospheric' treatment of the story.

What we did

Interpretive Planning
Exhibition Design
Writing
Graphic Design
Illustration
Audio - visual content
Mobile Phone content
Contractor/site supervision
Project Management

Ugly studios have been a pleasure to work with. They have produced high quality interpretation which looks modern but evokes the spirit of Orford Ness and its history as a military testing facility.
David Mason, Lead Ranger, Orford Ness National Nature Reserve

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Orford Ness – Island of Secrets Exhibition

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Design and Interpretation for Heritage and Culture, Education and Leisure

Brief

Idea

Result

What we did

Orford Ness – Island of Secrets Exhibition

Design and Interpretation for
Heritage and Culture, Education and Leisure