Outwitting Cancer is the first public exhibition in the UK focusing on cancer research. 

The iterative design process for the exhibition involved creative exchanges with the curator; collaborators in film, sound, engineering; Crick’s exhibition team; and a patient advisory panel made of a group of people with lived experience of cancer. Working in tandem with the curatorial narrative, we aimed to embed a sense of openness and curiosity in the design. 

Spatially, the exhibition journey starts with Micro Cosmos, a filmic installation inspired by the molecular realms of the human body. Projection-mapped onto a bespoke cinema screen, the immersive film weaves together microscopy imagery from Crick’s laboratories and a newly commissioned soundscape from artist Mira Calix. In ‘Encounters’ area, three distinct themes – Evolution, Disruption and Resilience – unfold over eight specially commissioned films. These films capture conversations between Crick researchers and those with personal connections to cancer. A sculptural display and colour palette is designed for each theme, integrating films, objects and text. The exhibition concludes with a participatory installation made of coloured ribbons – a symbol of cancer research – where visitors can contribute their personal responses. 

The visual language is underpinned by the unpredictability of growth and change. Life-size human silhouettes transform into each other, complimented by abstract forms and planting in a fluid layout. This language extends to the changing fonts and graphic treatment. Colours play an important narrative role in signifying different cancer stages as well as contributing towards a rich and positive exhibition experience.

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