Before pixels: Modular industrial dashboards
The author reflects on the aesthetic and functional design of modular industrial dashboards found in European museums. These physical interfaces, once used for monitoring complex systems, are presented as historical design inspiration.
Why it matters
Highlights the intersection of industrial history, human-machine interface design, and the evolution of control systems.
In my recent visits to German and Polish museums, I noticed a recurring theme: modular industrial dashboards, which I imagine have by now been all replaced by software.
I don’t know much about these – please write me if you do – but I wanted to share them anyway, perhaps for context, or amusement, or inspiration. They’re interesting design systems, and interesting interaction systems as well.
This was a very cool physical display for air traffic control, at the The Deutsches Museum in Münich:
= 2x) and (width >= 700px)" srcset="_media/before-pixels-modular-industrial-dashboards/1.2096w.avif" type="image/avif"> = 3x) or (width >= 700px)" srcset="_media/before-pixels-modular-industrial-dashboards/1.1600w.avif" type="image/avif"> = 2x) and (width >= 700px)" srcset="_media/before-pixels-modular-industrial-dashboards/2.2096w.avif" type="image/avif"> = 3x) or (width >= 700px)" srcset="_media/before-pixels-modular-industrial-dashboards/2.1600w.avif" type="image/avif"> At Fernmeldemuseum Stuttgart, these were used to monitor subway trains, or light rail. I do imagine these panels must have been interactive with all the buttons?
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