State Library of Queensland: Creating Heritage Immersion

The Context

The “Distant Lines” exhibition marked the centenary of the First World War, a high-stakes event for the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) requiring sensitivity and deep engagement. The primary operational challenge was logistical: efficiently moving large volumes of visitors from the ground floor public entry to the exhibition space on Level 1 without breaking the narrative immersion. Standard directional signage would have been functionally adequate but thematically jarring. The brief demanded a wayfinding solution that served a dual purpose of guiding foot traffic while acting as a “prelude” to the emotional weight of the exhibition.

The Collaboration

POMO worked directly with the State Library of Queensland’s exhibition and curatorial teams. This partnership required a seamless translation of archival research into physical assets. We functioned as the technical bridge between the curatorial vision focused on personal stories and “voices” and the operational requirements of a high-traffic public building.

Our role moved beyond design into the creation of bespoke physical infrastructure that could withstand public interaction while meeting strict safety standards.

• Structural & Thematic Engineering: We designed a freestanding wayfinding system that utilised sandbags for ballast. This solved a critical engineering challenge ensuring the stability of life-sized cutouts in a busy thoroughfare while instantly evoking the materiality of the trenches.
• Material Specification: The directional panels were fabricated using high-contrast black substrate at the base for legibility, ensuring the archival images remained uncompromised. The “cutout” technique required precise CNC routing to create lifelike silhouettes of soldiers, nurses, and family members, transforming the signs into “characters” that guided visitors.
• Activity Workflow Design: For the “Postcard from the Front” interactive workshop, POMO applied user experience (UX) principles to a physical space. We mapped visitor flow to prevent bottlenecks during peak periods, strategically placing instructional graphics and writing stations to create an intuitive “self-serve” system. This ensured families could engage with the activity without requiring constant staff facilitation.
• Safety & Accessibility: All elements were rigorously tested for stability and snag hazards, ensuring they met public liability standards for an open, unmonitored foyer environment.

The Impact

The intervention successfully transformed a transit space into an active part of the exhibition narrative.

• Operational Success: The “sandbag” wayfinding system effectively managed crowd flow, reducing confusion at the entry points.
• Deepened Engagement: By turning directional signs into storytelling devices, visitors were emotionally primed before they even entered the gallery.
• Sustained Interaction: The postcard activity saw high participation rates, with the intuitive layout allowing for extended dwell times and repeat engagement from families.