Beyond the White Cube

Values, Languages and Responsibilities of Visual Communication in Exhibition Spaces

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.82068/pgjournal.2026.23.42.12

Keywords:

Visual Communication Design, Exhibit Design, Plural Design, Design Ethics, Narrative

Abstract

In the contemporary context, museums are no longer institutions exclusively dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage, but are permeable to power dynamics and politics. Through a critique of the museum narrative system and the analysis of five case studies, this contribution highlights the central role of Visual Communication Design in the construction of counter-narratives capable of deconstructing the exclusivity and hierarchy of exhibition spaces traditionally considered neutral.

Author Biographies

  • Carlotta Belluzzi Mus, Sapienza University of Rome

    PhD in Design, she is a research fellow and adjunct lecturer at Sapienza University of Rome and an adjunct lecturer at the University of Ferrara. Her research focuses on Visual Communication Design and Exhibit Design, with particular attention to the educational role of Design.

  • Gaia Casaldi, Sapienza University of Rome

    Master's degree in Visual and Multimedia Communication Design, she is a PhD candidate in Design at the PDTA Department of Sapienza University of Rome. Her doctoral research explores the role of communication and exhibition artifacts in maintaining users' attention span.

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Published

2026-05-01

Issue

No. 42 (2026): Design Under Attack. Politics, Values and Responsibility Principles

Section

Research

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Copyright (c) 2026 Progetto Grafico Journal

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