Cao Fei – Testimonies to the Near Future, Kunstmuseum Basel

For Cao Fei’s exhibition Testimonies to the Near Future at Kunstmuseum Basel | Gegenwart, Studio Moono (in collaboration with Lukas Blum) developed the overall graphic concept, as well as the design of the publication, the city map, the posters and the exhibition wayfinding.

The design was informed by the exhibition’s central themes: the tension between physical and digital reality, technological development, virtual worlds and human identity. The aim was to translate these ideas into a distinctive visual language that is applied consistently across all media and throughout the exhibition spaces.

A key element of the design is a four-tier colour concept. Each exhibition floor was assigned its own colour, creating a distinct atmosphere while simultaneously establishing an intuitive wayfinding system across all four levels. A continuous colour gradient connects the floors, linking them into a coherent visual narrative.

The typographic identity is based on the interplay between Pexel Grotesk and NN Nouvelle Grotesk (plus a yet to be identified typeface used for Chinese). The pixel-inspired forms of Pexel Grotesk reference digital interfaces, video games and speculative future worlds, while Nouvelle Grotesk, with its precise and restrained character, provides clarity and a clear hierarchy of information. Combined with a modular grid system, these elements form a flexible visual identity that brings together the exhibition, publication and wayfinding into one coherent design system.