Sneakers Unboxed: Studio To Street at The Design Museum

posted by Robyn Pitts May 31, 2021

The creative team behind Sneakers Unboxed: Studio To Street, the Design Museum’s much anticipated new exhibition which opened on 18th May 2021, highlights the importance of collaboration when it comes to successful design. Two London design teams came together to bring the exhibition to life; InterestingProjects handled the 3D design of the exhibition flow and installations, while Studio LP was in charge of all things 2D, including signage and infographics.

Covering everything from the evolution of the sneaker to a precious collectable, to more sustainable methods of production, the collaborators have created a unique experience that celebrates all facets of the global footwear phenomenon, whilst facing the challenge of working remotely from home during lockdown.

Initially briefed on the project in late 2019, the team were forced to delay due to the pandemic, and didn’t start again until early 2021. By this time the brief had evolved and the team were faced with the huge task of designing a show-stopping exhibition remotely. Unable to physically access the Design Museum space, they had to solely rely on site floor plans, elevations, and photos to create their designs. They even imaginatively improvised and created mock-ups in their homes to help plan the space, with signage print-outs pinned to door frames and walls, and house exteriors used to get a sense of heights.

The final exhibition space is divided into three areas, each telling a different part of the sneaker story. It opens in a large white space that pays homage to the sneaker and its cultural relevance in the world, with a design that harks to the architecture of a cathedral, highlighting the global cult of the sneaker in modern culture. White curtains, made from materials used in the fabrication of Puma sneakers, give a further nod to the religious, chapel-like concept.

The second area is all about style, tracing key moments in youth culture when trainers went from being functional sports shoes to style icons. Backdrops reference the cities of Los Angeles, New York City, and London where this evolution took place, and billboard-like displays and cement-like surfaces evoke their urban landscapes. This second section culminates with a display that highlights the shift in sneaker culture that emerged in Tokyo in the 1990s, when an explosion of limited editions and fashion collaborations elevated the sneaker from the street to a much-coveted collectable.

The third and final area focuses on performance and is designed to reference a science lab. Each island showcases a specific innovation in sneaker design, inviting the visitor into the detail of materials, sketches, and design constructions. The close of the exhibition is a “green room”, inviting the visitor to consider the carbon footprint of sneaker production and look at the more sustainable methods of fabrication being explored today.

This theme of sustainability was also a key factor in the exhibition design. Wherever possible the team incorporated materials that were sustainable and that could reused for future exhibitions. For example, 85% of the perspex cases used to display objects were reused from existing Design Museum stock, while labels were produced on EKOply, a material composed of 100% recycled plastics with a clean, polished surface.

Studio LP’s infographics nod to the construction, design, and production of sneakers, with colours that reflect and work seamlessly with the surrounding installation elements. Produced on suspended lightbox panels, they amplify the cathedral-like concept of the entrance space and add dramatic lighting throughout.

Design Museum Curator Ligaya Salazar commented: “Creating an entire exhibition from our homes was a challenge but thanks to a truly collaborative attitude and approach by everyone involved, we believe we’ve created a unique experience we are all very proud of. Now it’s exciting to see how people are reacting to and interacting with the exhibition, which is always the most satisfying part of the job.”

Sneakers Unboxed: Studio To Street
18th May – 24th October 2021
The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG