Cold War Gallery

Thylacine was commissioned by the Australian War Memorial to lead the redevelopment of the Cold War Gallery, focusing on updating and extending the narrative of Australia’s involvement in the post-World War II era.

Our task was to integrate a new interpretation design, graphic elements, and collection layout that suited existing assets, along with a new exit area design that represented the overview of the Australian engagement in the Korean War. The aim was to refresh the gallery’s aesthetics and insert new elements without disrupting the high-quality design established over a decade ago. This required thorough research into materiality, production techniques, prototyping, and close collaboration with the Australian War Memorial curatorial and project management teams to ensure a smooth transition to a new exhibition that both complemented and enhanced the original gallery design.

We employed 3D CNC cut MDF lettering for the gallery title, a curved, stepped panel system to exemplify the increasing tension in the Cold War, large graphic panels depicting combat, and discrete object labels enabling a flexible and responsive object display.

Working closely with the AWM team proved to be both rewarding and enjoyable. This collaboration underscores the high level of expertise and commitment shared by both teams in achieving an exceptional redevelopment of the Korea Gallery.