The Science Museum Group

Connecting audiences through immersive design

When the National Science and Media Museum set out to deliver SONIC BOOM: Experiments in Sound as part of its Sound Season, the ambition was to create more than an exhibition. The goal was to immerse visitors in the sensory, emotional and physical world of sound.

Field were commissioned to design an experience across two gallery spaces that combined spatial design, wayfinding, interpretive content and graphics into a cohesive, education-led journey. Rather than presenting sound as a purely technical subject, the challenge was to make it tangible, playful and deeply engaging for a broad audience.

Our approach centred on a simple but powerful idea: binary oppositions. Themes such as Mono/Stereo, Quiet/Loud, Hard/Soft and On/Off became the foundation of the exhibition, creating a clear narrative thread that connected both spaces. These contrasts shaped not only the content, but the environment itself, guiding visitors intuitively while prompting them to reflect on how we experience and interpret sound.

Wayfinding and zoning extended this concept through shifts in scale, colour and pattern, helping visitors navigate the galleries while reinforcing the exhibition’s core idea. Each transition became part of the story, building a rhythm that echoed the nature of sound itself.

To make the experience accessible and relatable, we grounded abstract concepts in familiar materials. Surfaces such as carpet, fabric and rubber introduced a tactile layer, connecting sound to everyday life and offering visitors a physical way into the subject. Interactive moments were woven throughout the journey to make it playful, surprising and hands-on. Visitors were encouraged to experiment, create and explore, transforming them from passive observers into active participants in the world of sound.

Originally commissioned in winter 2019, the exhibition was designed to launch in two phases across 2020, engaging different audiences over time – from sound enthusiasts and culturally curious adults to families during the summer months.

The result is a layered, immersive experience that brings together science, creativity and play, aligning visitors, content and environment in a shared exploration of sound.