Alien Worlds
Dreaming of other worlds
The discovery of planets orbiting stars beyond our Solar System has sparked new questions about the universe and our place within it. Commissioned by the University of St Andrews’ Wardlaw Museum, Alien Worlds set out to bring exoplanet science to life while also exploring how artists, writers, and musicians have imagined worlds beyond Earth for centuries.
We worked closely with the Wardlaw Museum team as well as scientists focusing on the study of exoplanets to gather material spanning half a millennium: Copernicus’ heliocentric model, Galileo’s early observations, David Bowie’s lyrics, and Iain M. Banks’ unpublished sketches of his Culture novels. The goal was to combine cutting-edge science with cultural imagination, showing how humanity has always dreamed of other worlds.
The design concept positioned the gallery as a Command Centre for Exploration. Visitors entered a space that felt active and participatory, with portholes revealing imagined exoplanets created by schoolchildren, artists and scientists. The spatial layout took audiences on a journey – from astronomy’s foundations through to speculative futures.
Exhibition graphics echoed the aesthetics of space travel and mission control, using bold typography and light to create an atmosphere of discovery. Interactive installations invited participation: using Ai to imagine your own planet, completing fragments of a science-fiction story or exploring how astronomers search for exoplanets. Content was layered to suit multiple audiences, from children encountering the idea of exoplanets for the first time to experts looking for detail in the science.
The exhibition combined historic artefacts with popular culture and cutting-edge science. Highlights included Galileo’s inscription, Copernicus’ De revolutionibus and the first public display of Iain M. Banks’ hand-drawn world-building sketches. These sat alongside a Dalek, Bowie lyrics, and contemporary artworks, emphasising the interplay of science and imagination.
Interactive features allowed visitors to contribute drawings of their own exoplanets, while Mission Exoplanet – an escape-room style activity – encouraged families to test their problem-solving skills. Events and talks expanded the exhibition beyond the gallery walls, reinforcing its role as a platform for dialogue between sciences and humanities.
“This exhibition is intended to show how science fiction and science have always challenged each other to explore other worlds”
Dr. Emily Finer, co-curator of the Wardlaw Museum
