DIY in the District
A tribute to D.C.'s D.I.Y art scene, brought to life through a design-build exhibit celebrating emergent creativity, history, and community at the Martin Luther King Jr Library.
As the design-build partner for this exhibition, To Be Done Studio was tasked with creating an immersive environment that honors the DIY spirit of D.C.’s artist-run spaces. We teamed up with Art Dept., the graphic design and public art practice of artist Adrienne Gaither, and collaborated closely with DC Public Library curator Natalie Campbell to provide a physical and visual backdrop for the exhibit's content.
The design celebrates the resourcefulness and experimentation of artists working outside traditional institutions. Our goal was to transform the Great Hall into a vibrant hub that showcases Washington, D.C., as a perennial center of innovation. The initial concept draws on the DIY aesthetic of domestic spaces, juxtaposing exposed building materials with the grand scale of the room. To house the exhibit’s three themes, we proposed three "rooms": "Something New" Downtown (the history of DIY groups), Unlikely Spaces (buildings and venues), and Holding Space (a celebration of the ongoing artist-run scene).
The exhibition’s fabrication centered on the construction of three “rooms” and custom table vitrines within the Great Hall. To echo the resourceful, non-commercial nature of the spaces being highlighted, we utilized a familiar palette of 2x4 wood framing and plywood panels, modified to incorporate full-height Mila wall panels.
This intentional choice of materials provided a functional, aesthetically complementary backdrop for a diverse range of multimedia—from video displays and 3D artwork to wheatpasted flyers and live event backdrops. After off-site fabrication, To Be Done Studio executed the full delivery, build-out, and electrical installation within the Great Hall in just two and a half days.
Alongside our physical build-out, the graphic design by Art Dept. established a bold, cohesive visual language that guides visitors through the space. These elements work in concert with the architecture, utilizing printed vinyl graphics for intuitive wayfinding and historic image collages. From d.c. space to Rhizome and beyond, the design tells the story of these vital artist-run hubs, celebrating the boundless creativity that has defined DC’s art scene for generations.
