de Velde
Belevingsexpo Tabloo
Tabloo is an experience exhibition on radioactivity and the management of radioactive waste, with young people as the primary target group.
In the Tabloo experience expo in Dessel, young people can explore an invisible world. What is radioactivity? How is radioactive waste managed? Which nuclear applications are being investigated? Tabloo familiarises visitors with scientific-technical topics and ethical issues. Young people in the third grade of secondary school are the main target group. A mix of analogue, digital interactive and immersive set-ups makes complex subject matter attractive and manageable. Thanks to an intensive co-creation process with NIRAS and the partnerships STORA (in Dessel) and MONA (in Mol), we can explain the subject from different angles.
The jury on Experience exhibition Tabloo:
“The scenography of the exhibition makes abstract concepts clearer. Everything is aligned, appealing to its target group, and forms a total experience.”
How did the idea for this project come about?
Bailleul Ontwerpbureau: When it was suggested to build a repository for radioactive waste in Dessel, the municipalities of Mol and Dessel made clear demands. Safe and durable storage, of course. But also: clear information for residents, Belgians and neighbouring countries. This became Tabloo: a visitor and meeting centre created by intensive co-creation with NIRAS, the National agency for radioactive waste and enriched fissile materials, and the partnerships STORA (in Dessel) and MONA (in Mol). Input from members of STORA and MONA was crucial. Their expertise and critical, sometimes open-minded view challenged us to clearly translate technical information into innovative designs, interactions and applications.
What makes the project so special?
Bailleul Ontwerpbureau: Young people in the third grade of secondary school are the main target group. Visiting exhibitions is not usually at the top of their wish list. How do we engage them in a scientific and technical story? How do we hold their attention? A young target group requires an expressive, sometimes rather wacky style. Collages bring colour, humour, recognisable people and tangible objects into the story. We combine analogue and digital interactions, playing with sound and images. Each story has its own angle, a different form. We immerse visitors in a world that seems distant but is intertwined with our daily lives. Young audiences can appreciate this approach: they appreciate the visual way of making complex material comprehensible.
How does it contribute to a better world?
Bailleul Ontwerpbureau: Radioactivity is invisible, seems far away from us. And while it is our joint responsibility and we all benefit from a safe environment, we know particularly little about our radioactive waste. Tabloo provides clarity about this and wants to communicate clearly and transparently. Because it’s a story that affects everyone. The exhibition focuses explicitly on young people: they are the future of our planet and face a great many challenges. Tabloo presents a complex subject in a contemporary, accessible way. With immersive experiences and a stimulating graphic style, we make this hidden world accessible and concrete.
