Ralph Appelbaum Associates

As the inaugural exhibition of the nation’s only math museum, Math Midway launched the Museum of Mathematics’ mission of enhancing the public’s understanding of math as a creative and evolving endeavor. The carnival theme—inspired by the carnival midway—sets the scene, enticing kids to explore and have fun.

Premiering at the 2009 World Science Festival in New York City’s Washington Square, this traveling exhibition was designed to feel like a street fair or carnival, inviting children and adults of all ages to explore mathematical principles through fun, interactive environments, games, and special activities.

The entire exhibition, consisting of over 20 different hands-on exhibits, included square-wheeled tricycles that roll smoothly on a circular track, an image-morphing apparatus that uses mathematics to distort photos of visitors, a giant calculator that generates music for each mathematical step, and an oversized balance that visitors use to literally “balance an equation.”

The challenge was to create an identity that depicted the world of mathematics while conveying its elements of surprise and excitement. Drawing inspiration from the dazzling world of the circus, RAA created a palette of striking colors, bold geometric shapes, and exuberant typography.