An overcrowded show isn’t necessarily one that has too many objects in it. It might be a show that has too many objects doing the same thing. Three photographs might illustrate the same point. Several labels might provide redundant background information. A graphic panel might distract from the exhibit it was intended to enhance. Rather than altering the space or adding extra exhibition furniture, take a close look at each component and the contribution it is making to your exhibition concept.
Print out an object card for each object, image, label, panel, and interactive item in your exhibition. Spread them out on a table, one card for each item, to simulate the display without using the room. Mark the items that visitors need to see to understand the exhibition topic. Identify the items that repeat information, that require lengthy justification to appear relevant, or that may detract from a stronger display component. This kind of quick exercise will make it easier to trim down the show because you’re dealing with paper instead of exhibition hardware and exhibits.
Begin by addressing redundancies. A set of similar objects can serve to demonstrate differences, but each object must illustrate a visible distinction, different date, alternative technique, or opposing perspective. If five objects are conveying almost the same point, retain the objects that convey that point most clearly and visibly. The other objects may be added to the object inventory even though they won’t appear in the exhibition. Selecting an object to display or not to display isn’t a judgment about whether that object has value; it is a consideration about what the visitor can realistically be expected to see and remember for the specific exhibition.
Another source of visual clutter may be the amount of reading material in a spacious gallery. Long intro panels, dense body text, and overly detailed object labels can slow down the visitor flow and suggest that every single piece in the gallery needs equal attention. Read through long and short versions of your object labels and retain the text that helps a visitor understand why the object is there. Remove dates, technical information, and background material that are not critical to the visitor experience or move them to a different space altogether. Read through your revised object labels from an actual visitor perspective, not from a seated position, to determine whether that is the viewing distance you actually want people to adopt.
Next, examine your display hierarchy. A small exhibition usually needs a few strong focal points, not a focal point on every wall. Delete or tone down elements that compete with the strongest component in each section of the gallery. This might be an oversized header, an unnecessary plinth, multiple vividly framed images, or graphic elements that compete for attention with the gallery display. Negative space between groupings can be useful to provide an indication that one segment of the story has finished and another is about to begin.
Finally, delete elements that interrupt movement rather than detract from the concept. A case may narrow the path the visitors walk through. A freestanding component may interrupt the visitor line of sight. A busy group of components located near an entry may cause visitors to bunch up before they can pass through the gallery doorway. Draw out your anticipated visitor flow on the gallery plan to note potential stops, corners, and gathering spots. If an element creates congestion or obscures the next element in the narrative, move it out of the way or delete it altogether. Accessibility should play a major role in your decisions while the exhibition is still a work in progress.
Document the edited version before and after your modifications by photographing your table layout. Notice the way the eye shifts from object to object and how easy it is to distinguish one group from the other. An edited version will be more clear. It will have less repetitive information, shorter labels, more visual rhythm, and more breathing room around the components that carry the message. Place the items you deleted beside the display. It will be easier to make judgments about whether each remaining item has something essential to add when you can see what you’ve already left out.