Digital Crystal: Swarovski at the Design Museum

2012 — Identity / Art Direction / Exhibition Design

Exhibited at London’s Design Museum, Digital Crystal showcased 15 of Swarovski’s design and architecture commissions from the years 2002–12. These installations have served as an experimental platform for leading figures in international design to conceptualise, develop and share their most radical works.

Working closely with designer Roland Ellis, we created a two metre square title sign resembling flashing neon words hand encrusted with hundreds of crystals. We wanted to avoid the usual connotations of sparkly crystals, so the back-lit crystals become almost monochromatic — each facet highlighted tonally. To complement architects Carmody Groarke‘s semi-opaque structures — as well as the optical properties of Swarovski’s crystals — our caption and information system used back-lit panels of transparent acrylic, reverse printed in white, with titles laser-cut out. They appeared to float within the ethereal exhibition space.

The marketing materials used a simplified graphic version of the title signage, with an animated lenticular print for the opening party’s invitation. Ron Arad, Yves Béhar, Paul Cocksedge, Troika, Anton Alvarez and Hilda Hellström, were among the included artists and designers. Photos by Peer Lindgreen