STUDENT WORK

The objective of this project was to revamp the existing Northwest Tattoo Museum to showcase the change and growth of the tattoo industry over the last century. This Museum was outdated and unwelcoming. The goal was to create an experience that would create the social buzz that already exists surrounding the tattoo industry. Unfortunately, tattoo history is rarely showcased at the level of high-end museum exhibits. Tattooing has a dark underground history and that is often how it is displayed. The Northwest Tattoo Museum is no different. Although it is placed in a “strip mall” setting, an updated face, brand, environment, and display will shoot this exhibit from its sideshow past to the new digital age of tattooing. Today, 36 percent of Americans aged 18- 25 have at least one tattoo, according to a report done by the Pew Research Center. That’s more than one-third of America’s young adults! It comes as no surprise that the tattoo industry is the sixth fastest-growing retail business in America, as determined by the U.S. News & World Report. Social media, another game-changer for the tattoo industry. The same artists that gained celebrity status on the tattoo TV shows are now followed by millions of people on these platforms (and some of these followers don’t even have any tattoos of their own!). These same popular artists, or the individual users themselves, can identify new artists — the up-and-comers — that impress all with their unique and groundbreaking designs. Tattoo conventions are exploding in popularity, as everyone wants the chance to meet their favorite artists, post a picture with them on their profiles, and maybe even get a tattoo! And tattoo shops are now the place of legend — the home of major tattoo artists and a site to see in and of itself. Easily translated to online interest as well, as there are more than 147 million tattoo-related searches each month on Google.