O B J E C T I V E
The goal of this project is to problem solve utilizing professional design practices and strategies through in-depth research, ideation, and design development for a multi-faceted, visual project, focusing on typography, imagery, form and materials, and layout and composition to deliver a museum exhibit experience including a developed identity based on the research of one topic, environmental graphics for the exhibit, print narrative literature, and packaging.
I D E N T I T Y
Besides the clear themes of nature and science, Mark Dion’s art is all about conflict. I hand inked tree branches, but also paint swashes to represent his belief that art and aesthetics are tools to promote caring for the environment. From these I created a high contrast texture to use over modern sans serif text to portray fragility and also mimic Dion’s use of containers in his pieces. Furthermore the values of the letters themselves vary, though not at random, and if viewers were inclined to draw meaning, “on need” would reveal itself; words which also align with Dion’s belief that people need to care about the world which we live. The identity design is organized vertically with strong horizontal lines and open space to represent Dion’s clean aesthetic and how people should be open minded about what defines nature. The color scheme I chose is muted and grim, yet sophisticated and allows for high contrast designs.
E X H I B I T I O N G R A P H I C S
When I was designing the identity wall, and throughout the rest of the walls, I wanted to continue the ideas of delicacy, containment, and conflict. The placement of the exhibit identity on the wall is above eye level and only sightly wider than a wingspan to represent how Dion’s ideas aren’t understood at a simple glance. The meaning behind his work has depth and is on a higher level of thinking. The introduction continues on the back of the identity wall with a decorative color change, and there is ample negative space throughout to keep the design sophisticated and not obstructive of the installations. On the quote wall and in corners, the branch texture appears to creep, restrained overhead. I designed these walls to pay homage to Dion’s beliefs about our relationship with the enrivonment, and complement his art.
P R I N T N A R R A T I V E
The narrative literature is an informational guide that pairs with my package design. It is titled with the name of the exhibit, but without the type treatment to create a strong enough contrast against the background. I designed the narrative literature using the same graphic elements and used windows through the folds to illustrate the idea of containment and seeing through to ideas. The gatefold spread design has a symmetrical texture pattern that branches off from the center to elude a subtle tearing apart of nature. I also included illustrations of antlers and furry ears to connect to animals and Dion’s frequent use of taxidermy. Overall the saturation of the narrative literature is very low for a somber effect. I also introduced new diagonal lines filled with texture as a creative exploration of abstraction and containment. In my poster design a solid bar breaks free, abstracted pattern, and here the pattern is contained yet the line of its bounds strays.
P A C K A G E
The package itself also functions as the product, which is a mini installation kit. I designed this package after the drawer of a card catalog rather than a simple box to increase interactivity and connect to the purposeful organization of Mark Dion. The package is lined on the interior with another texture from my graphic branches, and has windows on three sides so the artist can look in on their piece. I used windows in my print narrative and packaging not only to elude seeing through to ideas, but also the ideas of containment. The colors are dark and the main color is olive to balance out my frequent use of blues and desaturated greens. The value of the band on the cardboard also creates pleasing contrast, but upon looking through the windows the texture is evidently grim and fragile in the varied shadows. The sides of the band include the contents of the kit itself and also a brief section of instructions that direct the artist to use the guide.
Thank you!
