“The virtual space is the second public space.”

Modern museums are relevant stakeholders in the construction of social identity, providing space and time to emergent contemporary artists, who are subversive mirrors questioning the core values ​​of the so-called reality, where their concerns are going through multiple layers of the society we live and are part of the future that we intrinsically deserve. 

Public spaces were under lockdown because of COVID-19 spread threat and we had to adapt to the digitalization of our society, presenting new challenges and also opportunities for museums that were forced to close their doors.

This situation generated the following question in the design process: How might we bring the physical experience of museums to digital environments and provide equally cultural spaces to new artists?

Diáspora is a conceptual prototype of a digital platform for the Museum of Contemporary Arts and Design of Costa Rica, MADC. This initiative tries to envision how  the link between physical and virtual space could be - extending the impact and presence of the MADC in the Costa Rican society. 

With the platform, the museum can improve the channels of communication between people and new artists by exposing their artwork, in-depth interviews, 360° experiences, new media adaptation and virtual meeting booking system. Also the MADC could use new media distribution strategies such as creating a podcast or promote new cultural dynamics like the establishment of a Media Lab to enrich the artist and designers community with citizen co-creating processes. 

For the digital prototype of the platform I used Figma, Framer, P5.js, Panolens.js and hand sketching explorations. As a result of the design process it was an approach to generate perspectives and provide equally digital cultural spaces. 

Ale Segura | alsebu.com