Fresh From The Field — Captains, Collectors, Friends & Adventurers - By Jasmax

Fresh from the field

Fresh From The Field — Captains, Collectors, Friends & Adventurers – By Jasmax

Fresh from the Field is a weekly article series sharing the fresh and inspiring work of our Aotearoa New Zealand Design Assembly community.

Taking inspiration from ‘the cabinet of curiosities’ from Renaissance Europe and cues from the age of the internet, Jasmax’s Brand Design team developed the graphic identity for New Zealand Maritime Museum’s latest exhibition – Captains, Collectors, Friends & Adventurers.

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The brief

Jasmax’s Brand Design team was engaged by the New Zealand Maritime Museum to develop the graphic identity for its latest exhibition, Captains, Collectors, Friends & Adventurers.

This collection takes a deep dive into the museum’s archives, highlighting some of the stories, objects and characters that have shaped Aotearoa New Zealand’s maritime history. The brief required a strong visual identity to tie together the content and bring the stories to the forefront to capture visitors’ intrigue.

The Design Response

Jasmax took inspiration from ‘the cabinet of curiosities’ from Renaissance Europe – an early ancestor of the modern museum, where the aristocracy would showcase precious items acquired from around the globe to tell a story about the world and its history.

The designers asked themselves ‘what would this look like today?’

Taking cues from the age of the internet, Jasmax produced a Wunderkammer replete, with clickbait-style headlines that invite visitors to explore the unique narratives of the exhibition – a playful take on social content.

The exhibition presents a selection of treasures from the museum’s collections, highlighting the surprising links that can be made between people, places, artefacts, vessels, and events in maritime history.

Objects include a bach the size of a matchbox, a fork with a startling backstory and a hand-crafted arch, as well as textile art, vintage menus and a bell that has travelled the globe.

The exhibition has been designed in collaboration with the New Zealand Maritime Museum and Pearson Architects. It will run at the Edmiston Gallery until June 2023.