Strandbeest Exhibition
Strandbeest The Dream Machines of Theo Jansen with Photography by Lena Herzog. To me, this exhibition exemplified the brilliance of the Exploratorium's approach to art & science. Our design strategy combined Art (as theatrical space), Natural History (as scientific interpretation) and Workshop (as process). I played a central role in facilitating the creative process of the Strandbeest exhibition team. As 2D designer I was responsible for design briefs, exhibition and event graphics, website design, print collateral, store products, and coordination with marketing. What an honor to work with Theo Jansen!
Science of Sharing
Science of Sharing: Investigating Competition, Cooperation and Social Interaction. My challenge as the 2D designer was to create a welcoming and safe environment for visitors to explore difficult aspects of their own social behavior. I designed a set of human icons to symbolize social behavior as both universal and variable. Content was organized around key "social dilemmas". Small, caption-less photos allowed visitors to make their own connections to current world issues. Interactive game arenas enclosed by floor graphics invited visitors to not only participate, but to observe each other’s behavior as a social scientist would.
Photography
Pier to Exploratorium. Working with photography is deeply gratifying for me. I collaborated with photographer Amy Snyder to design this documentary about the conversion of the old Pier 15 into a new LEED museum building. The story is told both above and below the water line. The actual seismic joint of the building is incorporated into the exhibition. I used steel plates and deep frames, and was inspired by the spray paint language of our construction site. Along with the environmental and architectural story, we focused on tools, materials, and honored many of the construction workers with personal portraits.
Experimentation!
I was lucky to be a designer at the Exploratorium for more than 30 years. Steeped in a deep interactive philosophy, interesting ideas and rich collaborations were a daily experience for me. I was allowed to wear many hats. The museum floor was a fluid stage for constant experimentation. Never a dull moment, with opportunities to fail and learn and repeat. I'm so grateful for the spirit of rapid prototyping that kept my design thinking fast and versatile.
Exhibitions include:
Strandbeest
Science of Sharing
Pier to Exploratorium
Being Human
Listen
Reflections
Magnetic Movie
Boundaries: It All Happens At The Edge
(AAM Excellence in Exhibition Design Award)
Frogs
Navigation (Smithsonian, DC)
Seeing the Light (IBM Gallery, NYC)