Bonsai and the Art of Display

In shops or museums, objects are intentionally displayed to appeal to or convey a message to viewers. Similarly, bonsai, artfully cultivated potted trees, are displayed in intentional environments to facilitate careful observation. Building on 10 years of experience with the hobby, bonsai displays were evaluated in different environments to trace elements of effective display design. Observations performed in the United States and Japan tracked the use of design and space planning fundamentals in creating an effective bonsai display. A design framework was composed from these observations to inform effective display techniques utilizing these fundamentals. The framework is written in a series of actionable design implications which are applied to the design of a sample display piece for retail goods, demonstrating the value of this framework in application.

To demonstrate the framework’s impacts, a sample display piece was designed using the implications to guide every aspect, from the piece’s construction to its materials and styling.

This research was funded by the Scot and Ina McNichols Undergraduate Research Award, and was presented as a poster at the President’s Showcase for Undergraduate Research Excellence on October 1st, 2019.