Tracing Toots Thielemans:
Exhibition design for Metro line 3
in Brussels
graphic design – mediation – information design – scenography
Tracing Toots Thielemans:
Exhibition Design for Metro Line 3
in Brussels
Date
– 2022
Client
– STIB (Société des transports
intercommunaux de Bruxelles)
Role
– graphic design
– mediation
– information design
– scenography
In March 2022, I contributed (with the agency Sennse and Mathieu Mandin) to the exhibition Tracing Toots Thielemans, created as part of the Brussels Metro Line 3 project. Developed in parallel with the KBR centenary exhibition (and adopting its poster’s graphic charter), this project celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Jean-Baptiste “Toots” Thielemans, the Brussels-born jazz icon.
The exhibition, installed along the construction site fences on Avenue Stalingrad, was designed with three objectives: To honor the centenary of Toots Thielemans and highlight his artistic legacy, to explain and justify the choice of naming the future metro station after him, a decision contested by some local merchants and to beautify the city and humanize the large-scale Metro 3 construction works.
The main constraint was to create informative panels in two languages (French and Dutch) without overloading the overall design.
The photographs used on the panels come from archival images funded by STIB through KBR. The graphic elements (maps, pictograms, etc.) were custom-designed.
Through 20 large-format panels, the exhibition invited residents, tourists, and passersby to rediscover Toots’ life story and his deep ties to Brussels:
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A map of Brussels retraced his childhood in the Marolles neighborhood.
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A map of Belgium showcased his attachment to his homeland.
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A world map illustrated his international recognition, particularly his success in Latin America and the United States.
More than a tribute, this project highlighted the parallels between Toots’ life and the daily lives of the neighborhood’s residents and shopkeepers. Born into modest circumstances near the very site of the future station, Toots rose to global fame while remaining deeply connected to his city. By bringing his story into public space, the exhibition positioned Brussels as both a city of creativity and resilience, a place that nurtures talent while constantly reinventing itself.
