Gallery of Craft and Design
Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, 2002
The design of the gallery acts as a helping rather than controlling hand in guiding the visitor around 1000 decorative art objects. Three main stories examine the process of making things, the meaning of objects in our daily lives, and the reason we collect things. Sub stories clustered around these allow themes to be taken in quickly and clearly, or to be mined into more deeply. Memories of the gallery’s past as a private theatre are in the walls, which whisper moments from old theatrical performances, and in the show cases and plinths in rows facing the old stage.
Client: Manchester Art Gallery
Size: 600 square metres
Casson Mann’s role: Lead Consultant, Exhibition Designer
Team: Graphic Thought Facility (Graphic Design), Paul Ruffles (Lighting Design)