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Ingenium Canada

Creating a new visitor experience for Canada’s largest collection of Cold War aircraft

A large-scale permanent exhibition for the Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Large museum space with several full-size planes, with exhibit black and red displays with image and text content being viewed by several museum visitors.

Client

Ingenium Canada

Project type

Permanent exhibition

ExpoZone; Oulton + Devine

Collaborators

As the first major permanent exhibition installation at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum (CASM), our collaborative team — including Oulton + Devine (3D design) and Expozone (exhibition fabricator and team lead) — embarked on an ambitious year-long project to transform 40,000 square feet of exhibition space into an immersive testament to Canada’s Cold War heritage and the RCAF.

Our exhibit and graphic design concepts drew heavily on the pervasive sense of threat inherent throughout the Cold War-era, taking inspiration from brutalist architecture, Atomic Age graphic styles, and period television broadcasts. Guided by these references, a limited three-colour palette was developed, including a vibrant red that alluded to the Cold War’s heightened alertness and sense of threat.

Working closely with the CASM team, we optimized bilingual content by applying a systematic content-blocking process, helping the writing team strategize, prioritize, and tailor its narratives to fit seamlessly into the exhibition space while optimizing accessibility and visitor experience. This content was complemented by a large selection of artifacts, several interactive elements, large-scale images, custom maps and illustrations, and a monolithic entrance wall of illustrated vintage televisions displaying archived Cold War footage.

The result is a captivating exploration of Canada's Cold War legacy. It invites visitors into five distinct zones that feature glimpses of the past, balanced with a platform for future reflection. Every element of the exhibit engages and inspires audiences of all ages, from an immersive bomb shelter, to a large selection of Avro Arrow relics, to digital tours of DEW Line stations. By immersing visitors in the sights, sounds, and stories of Canada's Cold War era, the exhibition not only educates but also fosters empathy and a deeper understanding of our shared Cold War history.

Large museum space with a large red and black entrance wall featuring a grid of TVs and backlit letters, with a real fighter plane above.

Large museum space with a large red and black entrance wall featuring various photo and text content, with a real fighter plane above.

Large museum space with a large red and black exhibition section, featuring various image and text layouts, with a large plane in the background.

Large museum space with a large red and black exhibition section, featuring the front entrance to a replica of a 1950s fall-out shelter basement.

Large museum space with a large red and black exhibition section, featuring the rear entrance to a replica of a 1950s fall-out shelter basement.

Large museum space with a large red and black exhibition section, featuring various image and text layouts.

Large museum space with a large red and black exhibition section, featuring various image and text layouts, display cases with artifacts, and a large plane in the background.

Large museum space with a large red and black exhibition section, featuring various image and text layouts.

Large museum space with a large red and black exhibition section, featuring various image and text layouts, and display cases with artifacts.

Large museum space with a large red and black exhibition section, featuring various image and text layouts, with museum visitors in the foreground.

Close-up view of a large red and black exhibition section, featuring various image and text layouts, and display cases containing a model space rocket and three lunar landers.

Large museum space with several large red and black exhibition sections, featuring various image and text layouts, with a large planes in the background.

Large red and black exhibition section, featuring various image and text layouts, and two display cases containing RCAF uniforms.

An array of mood board pages showing colour palettes, notes, architectural and period reference photos, and a title page.

An array of mood board pages showing design sketches, graphic inspiration, exhibit design inspiration, and test floor plans.

Scale elevation drawings showing size and placement of exhibition structures and graphics.

Scale elevation drawings showing size and placement of exhibition structures and graphics.

Scale elevation drawings showing size and placement of exhibition structures and graphics.

Scale elevation drawings showing size and placement of exhibition structures and graphics.

Scale elevation drawings showing size and placement of exhibition structures and graphics.

A detailed close-up of an exhibition map illustration, highlighting the style, colours, and fonts from the exhibition.

A detailed close-up of an exhibition content panel, highlighting the style, colours, and fonts from the exhibition, as well as a detailed map of North America.

A detailed close-up of an illustrated map of North America and northern Russia, showing occupations during the Cold War.

A detailed close-up of an exhibition map illustration, highlighting the style, colours, and fonts from the exhibition, as well as photo treatments and text layouts.

“We are very excited for visitors to discover the diverse range of stories presented in the new Cold War exhibition. This exhibition creates a greater appreciation for Canada’s aviation heritage and explores the vital role of aviation in the lives of Canadians. It allows visitors to see themselves represented in the stories the Museum tells about the significance of aviation in the growth and prosperity of this country.” (SkiesMag)

Christopher Kitzan

Director General
Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Be beautifully accessible.

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