Exhibition editorial identity
Brief + objective
This is a conceptual project about two connected exhibitions by Gian Maria Tosatti for a publishing design exam. The exhibitions take place in Milan and immerse the viewer in spaces of absence and decay to confront the fragility of memory, belief, and the remains of collapsed civilizations. Es Brent! takes place in a minimal gallery and features powerful paintings while Paradiso is an experiental installation resembling a depleted paradise.
The project involved the strategic design of the visual identity and the production of printed material that advertises and informs about both exhibitions. At the center of the project is the booklet/catalogue that covers the essay, exhibition views for both locations, artwork section for Es Brent!, and a biography of Tosatti. The challenge was to design a consistent visual identity for both exhibitions with an intentional but restrained visual style.
Based on the dark narrative of both exhibitions, I chose the sharp and unsettling Apoc typeface by Blazetype paired with the neutral and highly legible Untitled Sans by Klim Type Foundry. Black and whites are used for formality, contrast, and to distinguish and announce the separate exhibitions, e.g. white surrounding Es Brent! and black surrounding Paradiso. All layout decisions are made with the intention to give power to the art and photography, keeping them clear, large, and daunting. Subtle choices of positioning and typography give the identity its defining character.
