Final-year Interior Architecture students at the University of Brighton have teamed up with Brighton & Hove Museums to introduce a groundbreaking interactive QR code trail: Decontextualise to Decolonise . This innovative project reshapes how visitors engage with historical artefacts at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, offering fresh perspectives and encouraging deeper reflection on cultural heritage.
Launching on 29 March and running until 14 May 2025, the trail invites visitors to scan QR codes placed alongside select artefacts. Through these digital portals, users can explore immersive, student-designed visualisations that reflect the objects’ cultural origins, their often complex journeys to UK museums, and the voices that have been historically overlooked.
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Decontextualise To Decolonise
Led by Dr Zakkiya Khan and Terry Meade from the University of Brighton’s School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering, the initiative challenges traditional museum displays. It offers an inclusive and interactive experience that acknowledges difficult histories while promoting dialogue and understanding.
Carmen Jade Simpson, a BA Interior Architecture student at the University of Brighton, said: “Each artefact has a story deeply rooted in its culture. Through this project, we’re creating spaces that amplify those stories and present them in a more authentic and engaging way.”
The project also provides students with practical experience in applying their design and digital media skills to real-world challenges. From transforming Persian tiles into interactive learning experiences to reimagining an Inuit knife display that challenges gender roles, their creations encourage audiences to question how history is presented.
Brighton & Hove Museums’ Joint Head of Culture Change, Simone LaCorbiniere, said: “Students bring invaluable insights to the ongoing work of decolonising museum spaces. Their perspectives help us create inclusive narratives and restore meaning to cultural objects.”
Address: Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1EE
Website: brightonmuseums.org.uk.
