Using printed plywood, the exhibition design consists of a series of thresholds that act as both a frame for viewing the fabrics and part of the display itself. Each wall opening is a bespoke cut-out whose geometry is directly drawn from the specific Liberty patterns applied to its surface, highlighting the diversity and variety of patterns in the archive at a larger scale. The rhythm of the layered teleorama echoes the structure of the neo-Tudor interior of Liberty’s iconic department store, designed by Edwin T. Hall and his son Edwin S. Hall in the 1920s.

Layers of printed fabrics hang in each section, spanning the various cultural influences that have shaped Liberty’s design philosophy over the years, bringing softness and depth to the walls. From Egyptian motifs to Victorian botanical prints to modernist patterns inspired by Japanese woodblock prints, the exhibition gives a kaleidoscopic view of the store’s archives, emphasising its quantity, variety and richness.

Colour is a key aspect of the experience: The front-facing side of the teleorama dedicated to nature is predominantly green and blue, recalling pastoral landscapes, while the reverse side is printed with red hues, which, as a complementary opposite, intensifies the perception of the green side. This contrast serves to highlight the importance of colour in Liberty’s design process and the way that colour shapes the perception of each fabric. A mirror at the far end of the teleorama exaggerates the perceived length of the space and folds the red and blue landscapes together.

Details within the design, such as the framing of existing architectural features like the fireplace and a flower window to connect to the atrium, add a sense of continuity between the old and new. These elements anchor the installation within Liberty’s historic building, creating a subtle yet powerful connection between the exhibition and the store’s architectural legacy, originally conceived as a great ship filled with goods from distant lands, constructed using timber from decommissioned Royal Navy ships. A projection room adds another layer to the narrative and presents the history of the store through multiple projections in a theatrical octagonal enclosure.

The teleorama creates an engaging and interactive way to explore the store’s archive, celebrating not only the beauty and variety of the prints but also the cultural diversity and historical richness that have shaped them over 150 years and into the future.