War and the Mind at the Imperial War Museum London
Exploring the Psychological Dimensions of Conflict
Studio Scamps collaborated with PLAID Design Studios to create the 2D graphics for War and the Mind, a powerful exhibition at the Imperial War Museum London. The exhibition examines the psychological elements of conflict, from the First World War to the present day, and delves into how war influences human thought, behavior, and perception. Our role was to design graphics that would not only communicate these complex ideas but also resonate with a broad audience.
The graphic design approach focused on transforming academic text into accessible, expressive visuals. Wrinkled posters—used throughout the exhibition—served as a literal interpretation of deconstructing text, inspired by the aesthetic of war propaganda. This layering technique, paired with bold typography and evocative hand-drawn elements, helped bridge intellectual concepts with intuitive understanding.
To support the exhibition’s overall theme, we used ReBoard card for the Section panels, giving the design a paper-like texture along with four theme panels which were mounted on wheat-paste style posters, further connecting the graphics to the war propaganda aesthetic while providing a tactile, deconstructed feel. Typography was layered, blocking quotes over evocative handwriting to intensify the emotional response.
The exhibition’s four themes were also encapsulated through evocative collage illustrations, using a colour palette that leaned towards the clinical and utilitarian, reflecting the exhibition's forensic and objective focus.
3D design: PLAID London
Lighting: Luminance Lighting Design & Jonathan Howard Ratty
Audiovisual production: IWM, Clay Interactive and Liminal
Exhibition build: Scena
Graphic production: Displayways
500sqm £250k
Images © Imperial War Museums