This new exhibition explores the senses with an eye-popping design that aims to bring science to life.
The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester has launched a year-long interactive exhibition based on the hit BBC show Operation Ouch!, designed to make science fun, gross, and deeply engaging for young minds.
To bring the show’s playful, educational ethos to life, the Science Museum Group collaborated with Kit Studio on all 2D elements, ensuring a seamless, immersive experience. From supergraphics to signage and interactive illusions, Kit Studio developed an engaging visual identity that balances fun and scientific credibility.
“It’s been a joy to work on Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You for the Science and Industry Museum with the BBC and Objective Media Group,” says Science and Industry Museum Hannah project manager Clapham-Clark. “The exhibition is a fun-filled romp through our senses and what makes our brains work, and I’d like to thank Drinkall Dean and Kit Studio for a beautiful design that really brings the science to life.”
Kit Studio secured the project through a multi-agency pitch, working in close collaboration with Drinkall Dean, who led the 3D elements. The brief asked them to develop an exhibition concept that captures the show’s signature mix of education and entertainment while making science visually irresistible.
“We worked closely with the Museum, BBC, and Operation Ouch! to create an exhibition that celebrates the senses,” says Kit Studio creative partner Chris Bounds.
Balancing the 2D and 3D design seamlessly was a key focus. “We visited the site together, held regular creative workshops, and maintained weekly project meetings to ensure the whole experience felt cohesive,” Bounds explains.
The result is an exhibition where graphics don’t just decorate but actively guide visitors through a hands-on, immersive learning experience.
The exhibition is structured around colour-coded rooms, each representing a different sense and leading back to Brain HQ. Kit Studio’s visual identity amplifies this zoned experience by ensuring consistency in colour across captions, overhead signage, tables, and walls within each zone.
One of the most distinctive design elements is the use of perspective and illusion, as visitors are ‘shrunk’ as they enter the space. Bounds says: “Our wallpaper designs create the effect of walking across lab tables or stepping inside a waxy ear canal.
“Grossness is a big part of Operation Ouch!—so we dialled it up with dripping saliva, earwax, and eye-gunk illustrations, hung snot drops from the ceiling, and even created a 3D floor graphic that looks like a pit of waxy goo.”
While Operation Ouch! is aimed at children, the exhibition had to engage adults just as much. “One of the unique aspects of the show is that it uses correct scientific terminology while still being fun and accessible, so that balance naturally carries through to our designs,” says Bounds.
Accessibility also played a huge role in the decision-making process. “Height was a big consideration—ensuring captions, illustrations, and tables were positioned for both adults and younger visitors,” Bounds notes. The team opted for large-scale graphics at lower heights to make them easy to read for all ages.
Interactivity was at the heart of the exhibition’s design, as Kit Studio wanted to encourage visitors to explore and keep moving through the space. “If a payoff is just a block of text, people won’t engage,” Bounds explains, “but if it’s a hidden illustration or a revealed answer to a question, they’re much more likely to keep exploring.”
A prime example is the ‘Secret Senses’ panels, where visitors shine a light to reveal hidden information. Another is the illusion created by magicians Olivier and Chloe Rendon, where one person appears large and another tiny inside a small box just by taking a photo from a specific angle.
Lighting was also a crucial design element, ensuring visitors didn’t feel lost in the non-linear space. “DHA lighting did an incredible job using pulsing lights to connect each room back to Brain HQ,” says Bounds. “Backlit section panels and overhead signage also helped to guide visitors seamlessly through the exhibition.”
According to Bounds, audience feedback has been overwhelmingly positive since its opening, and the Museum has told Kit Studio that visitors love the experience.
For the design team, the project has reinforced the importance of lighting in these exhibitions. “It truly elevates the space,” Bounds notes. “That’s something we’ll continue to prioritise in future projects.”
In future, Kit Studio is excited about continuing its work in museum and exhibition design. “Working in the cultural sector is incredibly rewarding,” Bounds reflects. “It allows us to inspire, educate, and leave a lasting impression on audiences. That’s what drives us.”
