Maximising Artwork Presentation with Effective Label Holders
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Summary
Effective use of label holders has the power to both enhance engagement and signficiantly contribute to the visitor's overall art-viewing experience. In this article we discuss the important role labelling plays and offer some of our top tips for optimal display.
Why use a Label Holder?
A label holder’s purpose is to do more than just display basic details like an artist's name and creation date; It's an opportunity to enrich a visitor's experience. Often, viewers engage with artworks at a surface level—liking or disliking without delving deeper, but with good, well written and informative additional information, connection and engagement can be stimulated.By sharing insights into the artist's life, guiding the viewer's gaze, or unravelling the symbolism within the artwork, we foster a deeper understanding. Our aim? To leave visitors fulfilled, eager to share their experience, and, intriguingly, studies show they tend to spend more in the gift shop afterward.
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Tips for Optimal Display
The goal is to position the artwork as the Hero, to make it the focal point, free from interruption. You can minimize distractions by following a few simple guidelines to enhance the viewer's focus:- Strategic Placement: In multi-artwork displays, spacing between pieces dictates label holder placement. Ensure the label holder is close enough to the artwork to relate but far enough away to allow it space. Ideal positioning ensures the artwork remains unobscured even when visitors get close.
- Size Matters: Tailor label holder size to the information displayed. For basic details, opt for 150 x 100mm holders, scaling up to 150 x 150mm square or A5 (150 x 210mm) for more detailed descriptions. Consistency in width maintains visual coherence among the family of labels.
- Height Consideration: While fixing label holders, consider maintaining a consistent relationship with the lower left-hand corner of the artwork or opt for a uniform height for holders regardless of artwork size. Decide based on the specific setting.
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The Role of Label Holders
Label holders play a pivotal role in imparting information to visitors. While alternative methods like Gallery folders and audio guides exist, each has its limitations. Gallery folders can be cumbersome, limited, and often misplaced. On the other hand, audio guides offer in-depth information but limit the experience to a solitary journey, lacking the interplay of shared understanding that accompanies viewing art with companions.To conclude, effective use of label holders not only enhance engagement but also contribute significantly to the overall art-viewing experience.
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Posted by Sam Sprague
16th January 2024
