Entro Communications, in collaboration with Bruce Mau Design, designed the environmental graphics, donor recognition, and wayfinding systems for the large-scale expansion at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The new building, designed by Taniguchi & Associates and KPF, includes larger, more flexible galleries for contemporary art; architecturally distinctive galleries for masterpieces of modern art; a centre devoted to research and educational endeavours; and restoration of some of the Museum’s noteworthy architectural features.
The environmental graphics are discreet and tactful, designed to integrate with the building’s architecture and subtle palette of materials and finishes. Unique methods were developed for embedding removable stainless steel letters into the gallery’s plaster walls. This functional response to the needs of curatorial programming enables signs to be easily removed and refitted when galleries are repainted – a fairly regular occurrence.
MoMA’s strong, historically modern graphic identity remains intact. The design challenge included realignment and restoration of the integrity of that original identity, providing consistency across varying substrates (books, brochures, graphics) while injecting a revitalized energy – all in keeping with MOMA’s new architecture and programming.
