From concept, we worked with the designers to create an exhibition with immersive lighting that would stimulate young visitors and enhance the narrative of being inside a doctor’s head. We lit the intro and outro lab sections in soft white light, only introducing complementary colour to the setworks from the earhole to the nostril.

For budget and sustainability, we spent a profitable day in the SIM lighting store playing with all the available fittings before designing them with Drinkall Dean into the exhibition and designing setworks around fixtures including Equinox water ripplers, Optikinetics projectors and Chauvet Colorado spots.

Because of this, we could then use the lighting budget judiciously to enhance the Senses. We specified coloured Neo-neon and wound it around lighting tracks to create a colourful glow to each area, knowing we could use white light for all graphics and interactives. We created a custom pulsing LED light to represent the nervous system and link all the areas back to the brain. Finally, we bought some cloud pendants to create a safe, calm space that felt different to the colour around it. Close coordination throughout with the contractor was essential for full integration.

On site, we personally installed all the track fittings, and then programmed them via the Casambi system. We created a conventional exhibition scene but also worked closely with the access consultant to create a relaxed setting, washing some of the more intense lighting out. This was also to be used as a cleaning scene.

The result is an immersive, dynamic space, looking expensive and exciting but is crafted on a shoestring lighting budget.

Image credit: Science Museum Group – © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum Group