Warren Design

Protect and Survive: Britain’s Cold War Revealed
The National Archives, London
2018-2019

A project with Simon Leach Design and David Sudlow Designers

This exhibition about the Cold War marks the 70th anniversary of the formation of NATO and the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The design recalls the late 1970s and early 1980s at the height of the Cold War.

The first half of the exhibition is conceived as a civil defence bunker telling the story of government planning and preparations for nuclear war. The second half is a domestic setting, focussed on daily life and cold war culture. Key exhibits (the majority paper documents requiring strict conservation conditions) are traditionally displayed in showcases and are bought to life with thematic setworks, soundscapes, working props and AV displays.

Daniel collaborated with Simon and David on the winning pitch and led on the 3D design through to installation. Working to a tight budget, immersive environments were created with authentic-looking fall-out maps, nuclear information charts, MI5 spy files and an under-stairs shelter as described in the ‘Protect and Survive’ pamphlet compete with bucket toilet and 1980’s tins of food.