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Chaumont Museum

Le Signe, The Museum of Symbols



photo by Martin Ferrer

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France’s new National Centre of Graphic Design

I love museums. Nothing too extradorinaiy about that, right? Most of us do. But museums that are outside the "norms" of conventional displays or exhibits is what I really love. Ask me to go visit the MOMA in San Francisco and I will not put up a fight and will gladly go with you. But if you ask me to go to a museum of nothing but motorcycles (like the amazing Wheels Through Time museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina) and I'm out the door before you know it. Or how about the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C.? I have been to both of these museums and I can tell you that they are both truly interesting and captivating places to visit. Nothing boring there and I highly recommend it to everyone. Especially kids. When a lot of young kids think of museums, they think of a place that is boring, stuffy or too "adult" for them. But when you take a kid to something like Wheels Through Time or the International Spy Museum, they will have a completely different view of museums altogether. Trust me. After visiting museums like these, my 12 year old son has a new outlook on museums altogether. And so do I.

This brings me to museums dedicated to specifically to Graphic Design. Personaly, I have never run into one or even heard of one. Now, there are museums that have travelling exhibits, specific shows or even wings dedicated to graphic design, but not one that I can think of that is solely dedicated to just graphic design. Sure, there are "design" museums (the RISD museum in Rhode Island or the Design Museum in London come to mind), but these tend to include all forms of design, such as architecture, fashion or sculpture. But one that is wholly about and dedicated to just graphic design? Now that is an idea that is long overdue.

Chaumont Museum

Poster exhibit. Photo by Michel Denancé.

La Signe

On October 8, France inaugurated its first national graphic design center, named Le Signe (the Symbol), in the small, beautiful town of Chaumont. The structure, named ‘Castle of Cards’ was designed by architect Alain Moatti. The light, minimalist building stands at a height at the top of the town, an extension of the adjacent 19th-century Banque de France.

“While the center of design in Chaumont has long been a proponent of design in general and more specifically with its current exhibit on the art of the poster, it is yet to be determined what other exhibits or events are proposed for the future in their newly dedicated building.”

Chaumont has been hosting the International Poster Festival for the last 25 years, so having a museum dedicated specifically to graphic design seems like the perfect fit. It is apparent by the photos that have been released upon its opening that there are several exhibits in the spacious floors dedicated to the history to the design of posters, from the days of Toulouse-Lautrec to the present.

Only The Beginning?

While the center of design in Chaumont has long been a proponent of design in general and more specifically with its current exhibit on the art of the poster, it is yet to be determined what other exhibits or events are proposed for the future in their newly dedicated building. Currently is appears that the only exhibition on display at Le Signe is one dedicated to the art of the poster. While the town of Chaumont has hosted many exhibits in the past dedicated to all forms of design, it remains to be seen if there will be exhibits dedicated to something like the giants of the graphic design world, such as Saul Bass, Herb Lubalin or Milton Glaser, or a maybe a showcase of motion graphics.

Chaumont Museum

Exterior of Le Signe museum. Photo by Michel Denancé.


With Chaumont's annual poster competition scheduled for May 12-22 in 2017, it will be interesting so see what other displays or competitions related to graphic design this new structure will house. Only time will tell.

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