Chatsworth House
The Dog

An exhibition with a waggy tail, in a glorious English country house

 

Drawing on Chatsworth’s impressive collection of paintings, photographs and sculpture, The Dog told the story of dogs and their owners through history.

We created the exhibition identity and devised multiple applications throughout the house, including a series of interactive elements to enhance the visitor experience. We also worked on print materials, large format signage and a gorgeous 80-page book.

The project had multiple strands and was months in planning, with numerous interconnected elements and considerations. We worked closely with the Chatsworth team to bring cohesion and a distinct contemporary feel to a complex project, delivering each element on time and on budget. 

  • The Dog written in a black dog tag shape against background of black and white fur

  • The Dog written in a black dog tag shape against background of golden and black fur

  • The Dog written in a black dog tag shape against background of white fur

  • The Dog written in a black dog tag shape against background of blonde fur

Visitors walk up path to Chatsworth House with The Dog posters on stands at either side on grass next to trees
Visitor looks at paintings against dark wall with a quote from Duchess of Devonshire beneath

Creative approach

 

We designed a simple graphic device for The Dog exhibition identity – a dog tag. It was the key symbol throughout, used in print and online, and cut from brass to number artworks along the visitor route. We also focused on the colour palette, choosing a vivid turquoise that stood out amid the splendour of Chatsworth, using paint, paper and fabric to clearly identify which artworks were part of the exhibition.

Detail showing brass tag with number 5 on turquoise ribbon at the corner of a painting in a golden frame
Ornate shelf with two goblets and, in middle, a trophy in glass case with turquoise base
Dog ornament on turquoise stand on glass shelf
Visitor looking at archive photos in glass cabinet with turquoise banner behind it
Detail of turquoise stand on marble tiles with brass tag at corner showing number 151
Two dog sculptures face each other on turquoise floor banner

“We loved working with the team at Eleven. Their ability to translate the experience we wanted visitors to have was nuanced and helped us to achieve a good sense of clarity. It felt very much like we were working in partnership, and we would wholeheartedly recommend working with them.”

Dr Alexandra Hodby, Senior Curator of Programme, Chatsworth

Visitor holds unfolded flyer with The Dog logo in turquoise on white paper and black text details
Detail of gold The Dog logo on top left corner of printed publication
The Dog Walk Map with turquoise and gold text and illustrations on white paper
Illustrated dog-themed colouring activity sheet in turquoise on lighter turquoise paper
Double-page spread within publication showing photos of artworks and text details
Exhibition flyer with logo and text in white against golden-black fur background
Double-page spread within publication showing photos of artworks and text details

We also devised a series of fun interactive elements to encourage visitors to engage with the exhibition, including ‘guess the breed’ cut-outs and ‘make your own dog’ panels showing different heads and tails. We created (and sourced objects for) a timeline that told stories of famous dogs through the ages. We designed a reading room with dog-shaped stools and dog-themed books. We made activity sheets and instructions for origami dogs. And we created a photo gallery of the Devonshire family with their cherished four-legged friends.

Four visitors look at a dog-shaped notice board with tags tied to it telling visitors' dog stories
Two pots of pencils and a dog-themed activity sheet
A young visitor interacts with three shelves of large colourful cut-out dogs
Our graphic designer Glenn poses with his face in the cut-out hole of a large fluffy white dog's face on a board with other painted dogs
Turquoise napkins with the word Woof! repeated in white and grey
Visitors look at photos of the Devonshire family and their dogs
A visitor takes a photo on their phone of an exhibit in a perspex box on the famous dogs timeline
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