UNITED NATIONS
In the fall of 2019, our class was tasked with designing and presenting exhibition concepts to the United Nations for their pavilion at the 2020 World Expo in Dubai. Collaborating as group of nine design students—three Interior Design students and six Communications Design students—we conceptualized, wrote, built, and presented the exhibit Twenty Percent.
Each group member had a specific role. As the Copywriter, I was responsible for the clarity of the exhibit’s concept, writing memorable taglines and instructions for the entry and exit of the exhibit, and presenting the finished concept to the United Nations in person.
CONCEPT
The exhibit asks the visitor to consider the year 2020 as a checkpoint because that year placed us twenty percent of the way through the 21st century. The exhibit, calledTwenty Percent, explores what we—humanity—have succeeded at and failed at over the last twenty years. Most importantly, it asks: what will we, as individuals and as a whole, will contribute to the remaining 80% of the century?
This project had three final deliverables: the physical model at 1/2” scale, the digital renderings, and the final presentation explaining our concept, process, and results. The presentation can be viewed here.
LAYOUT
The exhibit is split up into ten “checkpoints,” each one relating to a global field in which humanity has achieved success and experienced failure. The checkpoints explore these successes and failures in a balanced manner to give visitors a complete picture of the past twenty years.
Upon entering, visitors are offered a bracelet that collects non-invasive data on their time in the exhibit that can be relayed back to them once they leave. The final portion of the exhibit is the Reflection Room. This space is designed to invite visitors to think on the successes and failures presented to them and ask themselves the big question: what can they contribute to to the remaining 80% of the century?
Built entrance. Here the visitor receives a bracelet that tracks them as they move through the exhibit and presents the visitor's data back to them at the end.
Digital rendering of the entrance. The bracelet is scanned for activation and the visitor can continue into the exhibit.
Checkpoint 7: Natural Resources and Endangered Species. This portion is physically interactive—when visitors step on the corresponding pads and cover the image of an endangered animal, the image of the same endangered animal on the screen disappears as well.
Digital rendering of the Natural Resources and Endangered Animals Checkpoint
Entrance and Checkpoint 3, which is Space. The Space exhibit explores our ability to navigate space but also mentions the drawback of the increasing amounts of space junk above our atmosphere.
Digital rendering of Checkpoint 3: Space. The exhibit was designed with accessibility in mind.
The built Reflection Room. At the end, visitors are invited to reflect on their experience with the question: "What will I contribute to the next 80% of the century?"
Digital Rendering of the Reflection Room
COMPLETION
On December 4th, 2019, our class took a trip down to New York City to present our work to the United Nations Board of Design in person. I was honored to be one of the selected presenters for my group. It’s a moment and an experience I will never forget.
RECEPTION
The UN was thoroughly impressed with our work! Needless to say, the World Expo in Dubai did not happen due to COVID 19, but working collaboratively with a client this large was an unreal experience from which I learned a lot.
