In this school project a group of designers came together to work on the Mighty Eight Airforce museum. Our task was to design an exhibit concept of World War II in the museum with the use of a real budget and with the collaboration of the museum staff.
I was assigned as the sole designer of the Hall of Valor Exhibition for the museum, as well as, I contributed in designing other exhibits and oversaw all graphics associated with the project.
Location of the Exibition in the Museum
Exhibition Floor Plan Render
The Hall of Valor
The Hall of Valor exhibit is found after the Airman Memorial and the Honoring the Eighth exhibits. Museum guests are welcomed into this cozy space by a large screen displaying rotating images of the seventeen Eighth Air Force WWII Medal of Honor recipients. The original drawings of these honored men are also displayed, framing the entrance to the Post-WWII exhibit.
In the Hall of Valor, guests have the opportunity to peruse an interactive digital database of the Eighth Air Force members who served both during and after WWII. Veterans, family members, and visitors can look up the names of pilots and crew members on an iPad-like touchscreen. The person’s image and a brief bio is then displayed on the large screen for all passersby to enjoy. In the database, men who received the Medal of Honor, Ace titles, and other distinguishable honors are noted.
In the Hall of Valor, guests have the opportunity to peruse an interactive digital database of the Eighth Air Force members who served both during and after WWII. Veterans, family members, and visitors can look up the names of pilots and crew members on an iPad-like touchscreen. The person’s image and a brief bio is then displayed on the large screen for all passersby to enjoy. In the database, men who received the Medal of Honor, Ace titles, and other distinguishable honors are noted.
Hall of Valor - Medal of Honor Recipients
The museum wanted us to use the existing frames of the medal of honor recipients in the wall. In back and forth conversations we tried to offer a design option that could enhance the recipient's honor while staying in budget. In the end they wanted this option to be used. As designers we chose to go forth with their preference and at the same time design our vision in the hopes that the visual could speak for us.
Hall of Valor - Medal of Honor Recipients Continuation.
Our design spoke for us and the museum staff became excited and ultimately understood what we couldn't explain with words, finally agreeing to go with this option. With the existing art from the frames we came up with this design that elevates the meaning of these recipients and honors their work.
Story of SAC
After visitors explore the Hall of Valor, they continue into the Post-WWII exhibit. A large wall graphic of the sign that stood outside of the Strategic Air Command Headquarters welcomes visitors with SAC's slogan, "Peace is our Profession". The following exhibits explore the important role SAC and the Eight Air Force played in the Cold War, Vietnam and Post-Vietnam conflicts.
Stabilizer Projection
This area of the museum has a stabilizer from an airplane. This stabilizer can't be moved, as a result we came up with the idea of using it to tell a part of the story by using projections on it that can reflect information of the exhibition.
Vietnam Exhibition
Guests make the transition from Cold War to Vietnam by exploring the communist threat, world events, and rising tensions, which led to the U.S. entering the Vietnam Conflict. Throughout this exhibit, visitors are surrounded by screens of different sizes on the walls and hanging from the ceiling, evoking the threshold of sensory overload that was created due to Vietnam being the first televised war. The exhibit also recreated the American consciousness during this time by showing such important events as the March on Washington, John F. Kennedy’s Assassination, and the Civil Rights Act being signed, on wall graphics in the background. The foreground focuses on SAC’s development of new technology and strategy for the Vietnam Conflict.
My role in this exhibition was the interior design of the exhibition while a team member designed the architecture of the room.
My role in this exhibition was the interior design of the exhibition while a team member designed the architecture of the room.
Post-Vietnam Exhibition
Both the Linebacker hallway and the Combat Command classroom lead into the final exhibit, SAC and the Eighth Air Force in the Post-Vietnam era. This narrow room is lined with modular panels that can be moved and rearranged for rotating exhibits. Visitors learn about the last few years of SAC, the Eighth’s move to Barksdale Air Force Base, along with the Eighth’s involvement in Operations Urgent Fury, El Dorado Canyon, Just Cause and Desert Storm. The Eighth’s leadership under General Schuyler is included, as well.
Videos, testimonies, print and images are used to provide support. There is a dedicated station for Veterans of the Eighth Air Force and their families to share their story by entering information into a computer database. At the end of the exhibit is a wall of video screens and images paying homage to today’s Eighth Air Force, continuing the story of the men, women and technology of the ever-evolving Mighty Eighth Air Force.
My role in this exhibition was the interior design of the exhibition while a team member designed the concept and architecture of the exhibition.
Videos, testimonies, print and images are used to provide support. There is a dedicated station for Veterans of the Eighth Air Force and their families to share their story by entering information into a computer database. At the end of the exhibit is a wall of video screens and images paying homage to today’s Eighth Air Force, continuing the story of the men, women and technology of the ever-evolving Mighty Eighth Air Force.
My role in this exhibition was the interior design of the exhibition while a team member designed the concept and architecture of the exhibition.