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MoMA's Unsung Design Heroes

By David Seliger - July 28, 2011

in Graphic Design

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in NYC—home to the recently-opened design exhibition "Talk to Me"—needs no introduction to any art or design enthusiast. Their in-house Department of Advertising and Graphic Design, on the other hand, is almost entirely invisible, yet they deserve just as much recognition. From life-sized typography to murals on apartment buildings, and from exhibit design to limited-edition newspapers, the Department is a powerhouse at delivering art to patrons in the form of an exquisitely wrapped gift.

There is certainly an art to maintaining a balance between drawing visitors into a museum, keeping their attention, and providing information, while disappearing behind the actual exhibit—the work itself—when need be. To this end, the majority of the Department's design work for the entrances to MoMA's exhibits is bombastic and hard to miss. What I find interesting, though, is how one best leads a patron through an exhibit (whether through psychology, design, or both) while keeping the art on display and the conversation it has with its visitors the most important part of the experience.

Naturally, museum patrons would expect one of the preeminent art and design institutions in the world to have top-notch exhibition design, and the team at MoMA makes a habit of exceeding expectations.

And what would any modern graphic design portfolio be without a few infographics?

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Memo

13 years ago

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I don't see any stiffness in the MoMA design work. I feel that it's extremely diverse, appropriate, beautiful and considered. The MoMA designers do a great job of appropriating various styles from the history of design and art in order to create work that enhances the viewing experience of each exhibition.
Great work guys.
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Ryan Geftman-Gold

13 years ago

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I've volunteered at MoMA for a few hours every-other-weekend since the Museum re-opened in 2004, and I've always wondered about the graphics that go up on the walls. I think they're really, really well-done... and have even envisioned how some would look on the walls of my apartment. Thanks for bringing attention to this great team and providing a link to the Department page.
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Doug Bartow

13 years ago

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Quality stuff, but they are still unsung even after this article. How about some names and faces (without having to visit their page to view them)?
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Integraphix

13 years ago

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I miss NYC so much since moving to Chicago... MoMA is amazing.

:-(

//Beth @ the Graphic Design Agency
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Joe

13 years ago

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Visited the MoMA for the first time this past March. I've got to say, the exhibits are designed so well.

Sadly, I only got to catch a glimpse at the German Expressionism exhibit since it was open to "members only" at the time.

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Jimmy Crackcorn

13 years ago

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A lot of MoMA's design work feels very stiff to me. Probably due to the internal bureaucracies of a large institution.
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Oliver

13 years ago

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Jesse is the mastermind behind it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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