JOSEPH BANH, MA Design Strategy + Research + Human-Centred Innovation + CX Program Design    
Toronto, CA   |   josephbanh@gmail.com  |  
+1.416.706.7663  |    https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephbanh/







EMIRATES


Etihad Museum: A story of Union



Project Description

Client: CH2M/Halcrow, Road & Transport Authority, Gov’t of Dubai, Dubai Culture 

Lord Cultural Resources was engaged to provide museum planning, exhibition design, and visitor experience planning services for Etihad Museum which explores the history and formation of the United Arab Emirates. 


Services

The Lord Cultural Resources team led exhibition planning and design. My role on the team was to lead research, stakeholder engagement, story and content development in the field in the UAE. We worked iteratively and in tandem with base-building architectural design to refine the visitor experience plan based on the insights and discoveries from our consultations with government representatives from across the seven Emirates. 

This entailed roadtripping to 6 of the 7 Emirates (unfortunately I left the firm before I could make it to Fujairah) to conduct archival research, meet with subject matter experts, analyze potential collection artifacts and make recommendations for acquisition. I compiled comprehensive content packages and reports of our finding for the client which included photos, video, and copy for the final exhibitions. The museum opened to the public in 2017.


Project Credits

Joseph Banh / Field research lead, content development lead, stakeholder engagement, exhibition copy writer

Javier Jimenez / Stakeholder engagement lead

Moriyama & Teshima Architects (MTA) / Architectural design

Weatherston Bruer & Associates (WBA) / Exhibition design

NGX Interactive / Digital and interaction design


Legend

  1. Architectural rendering of Etihad Museum (MTA)
  2. Exterior Elevation & materials (MTA)
  3. Aerial view of the historic Union House area and pre-construction site
  4. Historic Union House (Dubai) where the UAE Constitution was signed
  5. The completed Etihad Museum
  6. Pearl diver’s suit from Ras Al Khaima, site visit
  7. Traditional coffee service set from Sharjah, site visit
  8. Diorama of falconry and falcon training from Ajman, site visit 
  9. Historic passport from Umm Al Qawain, site visit
  10. Noor Ali Rashid exhibition of historic photos, Sharjah, Site visit
  11. Sample interactive exhibit wire frames with installed exhibits (Lord/NGX)
  12. Gallery views of the permanent exhibition