Disobedient Objects | V&A, London

Running from 26 July 2014 to 1 February 2015, Disobedient Objects was a ground-breaking exhibition at the V&A Museum, exploring the powerful role of objects in grassroots movements for social change. Spanning from the late 1970s to the present, the exhibition showcased how political activism fuels design ingenuity and collective creativity.

Visitors encountered a diverse collection of artefacts—from defaced currency and textiles documenting political violence to graffiti-writing robots and inflatable barricades used in protests. The exhibition highlighted the intersection of design, activism, and political resistance, demonstrating how everyday objects become powerful tools for change.

A Theatrical Approach to Exhibition Lighting Design

Our lighting design responded to both the narrative of the exhibition and the dynamic nature of the objects on display. Moving away from traditional exhibition lighting, we adopted a theatrical lighting design approach to enhance the immersive experience.

The first gallery space replicated a natural daylight environment, reinforcing structural poles with shadow play to emphasise the scale and presence of objects. In the second gallery, lighting was carefully controlled to maintain focus on large AV screens, ensuring they remained the central point of engagement. At the same time, freestanding exhibits were highlighted to create impact without competing for attention.

Interactive Engagement Beyond the Exhibition

A key part of Disobedient Objects was its interactive element. The V&A Museum’s ‘How-To’ guides, still accessible online, allow visitors to recreate some of the objects at home. These guides extend the exhibition’s legacy, offering an engaging way for audiences to participate in the movement and understand the design behind activist tools.

By integrating thoughtful lighting techniques, we helped shape a compelling and immersive experience that honoured the exhibition’s radical spirit.

“The biggest challenge with the lighting of ‘Disobedient Objects’ was to ensure each object was seen clearly, yet not elevated to the status of a typical museum object by creating a spotlight. Michael Grubb Studio took this notion on board and worked confidently and efficiently to create the desired lighting experience, experimenting with the more dramatic lighting in the first section and gaining feedback from the internal team.

The team at the V&A are extremely happy with the final results and feel the atmosphere created works perfectly with the content and design.” 

 Sarah Jameson, Exhibition Coordinator, V&A

“We were delighted to be appointed by the V&A for this first of a kind exhibition. The challenge of creating something new in terms of the lit environment was both appealing and a challenge. We are very proud of the final solution and extremely grateful for the support and enthusiasm of the in-house V&A design team.”

Michael Grubb, Founder + Managing Director of Michael Grubb Studio