The Mandela Day exhibition that was held at the Vanderbilt Hall in New York’s Grand Central Station in July this year has been awarded a prestigious Gold Award for the Best Graphical Treatment at the Event Design Awards.

 

The annual awards are presented by Event Design magazine and recognise design achievements in the events, exhibition and environments industry.

 

The exhibition was designed by 46664 Creative Director David Costa and Ralph Appelbaum Associates as part of the Mandela Day celebrations held in New York City from 9 July to 22 July 2009, and featured six illuminated 3D words.

 

The innovative display celebrated the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela and was designed to encourage people to write Mandela Day messages on it.

 

 “From the beginning the intention was for people to engage with the installation,” says Costa. “We never wanted to do an academic exhibition.”

 

The installation is made up of six words – act, listen, lead, unite, learn and speak – which represent Mr Mandela’s values and legacy. The exhibition also contained biographical information and quotes about Madiba’s life and values.

 

The intention was to help people understand the Mandela Day message – that Mandela Day, a 46664 and Nelson Mandela Foundation initiative, is an annual day internationally recognised by the UN dedicated to humanitarian action. Mandela Day on 18 July is a day for individuals to follow Mr Mandela’s lead and do something to help their local community.  

 

According to Costa, the exhibition was very successful and judging by the number of messages on the installation people clearly understood the concept of Mandela Day.

 

“The people who saw that exhibition completely understood it and learnt from it. They understood exactly what is behind the name [Nelson Mandela],” he says.