Update: The Newseum closed to the public in 2019. The Freedom Forum hopes to find a suitable location to serve as the Newseum’s next home; in the meantime, it hosts traveling exhibits and pop-up exhibits.
In October 2007, while preparing for a visit to Washington, DC, I wrote to a friend, “The Newseum doesn’t open until April! Bummed I can’t see it. I’ll have to go back….” Go back I did.
Here is my live, in-person, eye-witness report: It is every bit as superlative as I had heard. Ralph Appelbaum & Associates did an amazing job on this project. I spent hours and hours and hours there. It’s huge! And so much of the content is fascinating.
What riveted me most, of course, were the graphics. They’re gorgeous. I loved the inset painted titles, and that rich black the designers used. Reversed text? Yes, please! Looks good.
The graphics throughout the museum were clean and modern (excluding some temporary exhibits, which had themed but still lovely aesthetics). The mood was sometimes somber, sometimes light — I love the treatment for Who Controls the News? —but either way, done just right.
There were a number of timelines in the Newseum, and I liked how artifact cases were integrated into them in a way that didn’t feel cluttered or overwhelming. I am always on the lookout for timeline inspiration; designing timelines regularly is nearly unavoidable in this field. If you see one that’s done well, please share!
Post updated in January 2021 with minor text edits. Links have been fixed. This post was originally published at theexhibitdesigner.com on 11 November 2009.