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2025-2026 / HAAR0138-1

Exhibition design

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Master in communication, professional focus in publishing and the publishing industry5 crédits 
 Master in communication, professional focus in cultural mediation and public relations5 crédits 
 Master in history of art and archaeology : general, professional focus in museology5 crédits 

Lecturer

Nicolas Navarro

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course offers a theoretical and practical approach to exhibition design. The aim is, on the one hand, to understand the multiple components of an exhibition (concept, objects, texts, mediation, etc.) and, on the other hand, to engage a theoretical reflection on the exhibition as developed in the Expology or Exhibition Studies. 

As part of this project-based course, students will be placed in a professional situation : they will be required to respond to an institutional commission to design an exhibition on a given theme.

NB: For the year 2025-2026, the project consists of designing an exhibition on cyanotype in collaboration with Centre d'interprération de la Pierre de Sprimont, which is planning an exhibition on this theme in autumn 2026.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

By the end of the course, students should be able to take a critical approach to exhibitions, identify the different stages involved in designing an exhibition, and implement them.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

No prerequisites are required. However, regular visits to museums and exhibitions are an advantage.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Project-based course

The course sessions will combine group work on exhibition design with theoretical points and readings of scientific texts illustrating the various stages of exhibition design. Objectives tailored to each group's progress will be identified from one session to the next.

Course materials (PowerPoint format) will be made available to students after each class.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Face to face course 

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

The PowerPoint presentation made available to students at the end of each session includes the bibliography for each course.

Some reference works (not compulsory reading):

  • BENAITEAU Carole et al., Concevoir et réaliser une exposition. Les métiers, les méthodes. Paris, Eyrolles, 2021. 
  • CHAUMIER Serge, Traité d'expologie, Paris, La documentation française, 2012. 
  • DAVALLON Jean, L'exposition à l'oeuvre : stratégies de communication et médiation symbolique, Paris, L'harmattan, 2000. 
  • EZRATI Jean-Jacques et MERLEAU-PONTY Claire, L'exposition, théorie et pratique, Paris, L'Harmattan, 2006. 

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Written work / report


Further information:

Attendance at lectures is strongly recommended.Attendance at the course is essential for better monitoring of the project.

- Collective written work in the form of a dossier (50%)

- Oral examination presenting the exhibition design work to the client (50%)

 

Work placement(s)

No work placement is planned as part of this course.

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

The course is taught in Q1 in 3-hour sessions.

Depending on current events, students may be invited to attend symposiums/conferences organised outside of the fixed course schedule.

The course may be subject to change each year depending on current events and the availability of potential speakers and visits. For this reason, students may be invited to attend a conference organised outside of the fixed course schedule.

Contacts

Nicolas NAVARRO

Service de muséologie 

Quai Roosevelt 1B - Bât. A4 - 0/3, Liège - 4000

Mail - nicolas.navarro@uliege.be

Website https://www.museologie.uliege.be



 

Secretary

Josiane DERULLIEUR

04.366.53.41

Association of one or more MOOCs