Kin Design
The Fragmented Orchestra

Kin Design created the visual identity for a sonic exhibition at FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) in Liverpool. We had to produce multiple outcomes across a range of media, from logo, typeface, interactive poster, website art direction, information boards, exhibition layout, invitations, award evening presentation slide and a 30 ft wall vinyl for the exhibition space.

The Fragmented Orchestra was a three month exhibition as part of the Ding Dong at FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) in Liverpool.

The Fragmented Orchestra comprises of a huge distributed musical structure modelled on the firing of the human brain’s neurons. Twenty four sites around the UK are connected to each other to form a ‘neural’ network. The sonic information captured at these sites is transmitted over the internet, causing other sites to ‘fire’.

The collective composition can be heard at the central performance space at FACT in Liverpool and simultaneously at the twenty four sites, allowing the participant to hear their effect on the composition.

The art direction for the exhibition was a counterbalance of modern geometric graphic elements and a traditional serif-based typeface placed within a minimal and modern layout system. Our approach was one of visual coherency, not consistency. A balance was carefully established in order to maintain visual elements without mere replication, and allowed us to create optimal solutions for the specific demands of each brief.

Processing was used to generate graphic assets for the poster. This generative element in the design approach was intended to reflect the contemporary and experimental aesthetic of the Fragmented Orchestra exhibition.

This synapsal aesthetic in the video was translated into a two dimensional map for the exhibition speakers in the form of a vinyl wall graphic. This had to work both as a functional map for the exhibition speakers and as a graphic representation of the exhibition concept itself. The Gallery space was intended to create a dark, immersive experience in which to feel the live Fragmented Orchestra composition. For that reason we chose a muted colour scheme that contained glowing typographic elements in order to work with and not detract from the sonic purpose of the exhibition. Furthermore, the gallery space was primarily intended to present the visitor with a complete composition, and with a secondary option of listening to each individual site. Therefore the mapping experience was intended to be precise but not immediate. For this reason no supplementary coding system was utilised to assist mapping.

We wanted to apply this necessary level of user exploration to an interactive element within the exhibition poster. We felt that it was important to incorporate the sensory nature of the exhibition into this interactivity. For this reason the user has to hold the poster up to the light in order for the complete information to be received. However, each side is also a graphic in it's own right. A fluorescent pantone ink was used for highlight text to represent the electric elements inherent in the exhibition and also to create a vivid show through. It functions as both an A6 postcard when folded down and as an A3 poster when unfolded: as both information graphic, interactive object and pin up art poster.

The logo and typeface subtly reflect the the Orchestral element of the exhibition, which we considered to be an important aspect to emphasise due to it's considered and large scale nature. We used musical notation lines to create the typographic baseline and x height of the logo elements and as a basis for a contrastingly modern approach to the organisation of the words in relation to each other. The lower case 'f' and enlarged 'O' were chosen as a subtle reference to this.

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Above is an image from the Guardian Newspaper.

Any other work will be subject to upload approval from Kin Design.