EXHIBIT DESIGN

HERITAGE STORYTELLING

Concepting, Graphic Design, Presentation Design
For Ward Willage, Howard Hughes
Agency: MVNP

OVERVIEW
Engaged by MVNP as Art Director, I developed exhibition concepts for the IBM Preservation Event, an initiative by Ward Village to honor the building’s architectural and cultural legacy.

BACKGROUND/CHALLENGE
Designed in 1962 by Vladimir Ossipoff, the IBM Building is a hallmark of tropical modernism. At one point slated for demolition, the property was instead preserved and restored. This event was held as a tribute to its significance. The challenge was to tell its story in a way that was both educational and visually engaging.

APPROACH/EXECUTION
To narrate the building’s evolution, I designed a backwall display of hanging posters for a historical timeline from the building's inception to today. For free-standing, interactive exhibits, layered posters were created with archival photographs that were recolored by a local artist. The layering of colored film over the black and white imagery was a reference to mid-century lithography—the printing method of the era. The design encouraged tactile interaction, allowing visitors to physically engage with history. Keepsake coasters were also designed highlighting unique architectural details.

OUTCOME
The private opening was deemed a success, and the exhibit was open to the public in the IBM Building’s lobby. It served as an educational tribute, reinforcing the value of preservation and connecting the public with a piece of Hawaii’s architectural heritage.

Credits: MVNP + HonBlue

© 2025 SYLVIA FOURES