November 2017. Qualia has been appointed to design a brand new visitor experience at Edinburgh Castle. The experience will tell the story of the historic Castle and how it was invaded and held under siege by many armies over several centuries. Historic Environment Scotland 's interpretation team felt that Qualia's creative proposal for an immersive and theatrical experience suited the Argyle Tower venue exceptionally well and that it will have broad appeal for families, education groups and international tourists.
Goodbye Magic Factory
AUGUST 2017. The National Science and Media Museum at Bradford has finally closed the doors of the interactive Magic Factory gallery. The gallery was designed by Qualia's Richard Mathers in the late 1990s and it was opened to the public as part of the Museum's £17 million Imaging Frontiers initiative in 1999. The gallery interpreted the science of light, prism technology and optics to the 7-11 age group and was a firm favourite with many families. Speaking to Bradford's Telegraph and Argus newspaper on the 7th of August,
Museum Director,
Jo Quinton-Tulloch, said "The Magic Factory has served us brilliantly for 18 years,
and will be fondly remembered by many visitors who have enjoyed it
during that time."
Richard has some very fond memories of working closely with curator and content leader, John Trenouth, and developing the gallery's proto-steampunk aesthetic style with his close friends and design colleagues at the museum, including Imelda Kay, Paul Lee and Stewart Hirst.
New Destination Plan for Elsecar
July 2017. Qualia has been successful as part of a consortium bid to supply the interpretive design component for a new destination business plan for Barnsley MBC. The tender was headed by L&R Consulting. Qualia will be collaborating with L&R Consulting, The Audience Agency, Heritage Angel. Sarah Hilton Associates, CMA, Heritage Retailing and Walker Singleton.
Exchange Museum, Bridgetown, Barbados
June 2017. Qualia has just managed to obtain some photographs from the Exchange Museum in Barbados, now nearing completion. The recent project was a collaboration between Qualia Limited and Brennan Design LLP. The development of Bridgetown's former masonic lodge and banking headquarters is a fascinating project in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ground floor of the building hosts a rotating programme of exhibitions. Money, banking and business in Bridgetown are explored in the museum displays on the first floor and the history of Barbadian freemasonry is covered on the second floor.
New Qualia Brand Identity
February 2017. Qualia is thrilled with its new logo and brand identity, created by Kate Pettitt at York graphic designers, Bivouac.
Kate says: "It was fun to wrap the old brain cells around the development of the Qualia logo. It took many twists and turns before arriving at its conclusion.
Design journeys are often exciting, but this was one I really enjoyed and that took me on a little typographic adventure!"
See Kate's development work on the Qualia logo here:
