Nosipho Vilakazi
Information
Case Study 5
Nothing New: Archives of Affection
Client: Willis Smith Construction Gallery
UX Research · Experience Strategy · Service Design
Challenge
Queer intimacy in the 19th century is largely preserved through archival materials that are often decontextualized, misclassified, or rendered invisible within traditional historical narratives.
Solution
As lead curator, I designed an exhibition framework that centered archival tintypes of queer couples as historical evidence of intimacy, care, and self-representation.
My Role
I served as lead curator, developing the exhibition’s interpretive strategy and spatial layout. I translated archival research into annotated floor plans, wall-by-wall wireframes, and vinyl placement plans, and oversaw installation to ensure the exhibition balanced historical integrity, accessibility, and narrative clarity.