From the Archives: Museum Exhibitions and Physical Products
Looking back at my favorite early-career projects.
Before my journey into digital UX/UI design, I designed physical products and spaces.
I have developed art, science, and history exhibitions for museums in New York City. I also collaborated with craftspeople to design furniture and experimental physical objects. Guided by human-centered design principles and inspired by different mediums and audiences, I consider myself to be a multi-disciplined problem solver.
The Titanosaur
Venue: The American Museum of Natural History
Opening Date: 2016
As a freelancer, I designed the gallery and platform for The Titanosaur, the museum’s largest animal exhibit. The full skeleton cast is 122 feet long and pokes its head out into the hallway to welcome visitors. Several real Titanosaur fossils were also exhibited for a year before returning to Argentina.
The Vietnam War: 1945-1975
Venue: The New-York Historical Society
Opening Date: 2017
The New-York Historical Society’s landmark Vietnam War show was the first exhibit of its kind to cover the entire conflict from early American involvement after WWII until the fall of Saigon. Our challenge was to create an immersive, educational visitor experience with a well-balanced set of viewpoints without sanitizing the violence and controversies.
I worked with a team of curators, graphic designers, media designers, and installers to bring this vision to life. I was responsible for concept development, final design, bid documentation, and overseeing installation.
We achieved this by creating a big-picture geopolitical event timeline fleshed out with personal stories, war front vignettes, mass media, political ephemera, and pop culture. The exhibit concluded with a journaling area so visitors can reflect on the war’s human, environmental, and geopolitical impact. Many vets and older visitors also shared their personal experience.
Harry Potter: A History of Magic
Venue: The New-York Historical Society
Opening Date: 2018
This immersive exhibition showcased the real life mythology, folklore and magic that influenced JK Rowling’s wizardly world. It was curated by the British Library and first opened in London. NYHS was the only North American venue.
Each section featured a Hogwarts subject brought to life by rare books, manuscripts, and magical artifacts from all over the world. Visitors could further explore by using interactive media experiences or inspecting Rowling’s handwritten drafts and illustrations.
Many of the featured artifacts are hundreds of years old. We worked carefully with the British Library and applied our best practices in conservation and display. While strict constraints in environmental control and security were a challenge, it was rewarding and humbling to work with priceless artifacts.
Rockwell, Roosevelt & the Four Freedoms
Venue: The New-York Historical Society
Opening Date: 2018
Curated by the Norman Rockwell Museum, this exhibition explored Rockwell’s personification of Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms speech as a call for freedom worldwide. I designed a simple gallery layout that included enough negative space for large paintings to “breathe” as well as for viewers to get close to smaller magazine prints and posters.
Lost Sock Casting
Date: 2011
For my senior project at Pratt, I worked with the New York Art Foundry to develop a process for casting textiles in bronze. I used a combination of epoxy resin and paper molds to solidify textiles and maintain surface texture and fluidity. After dissolving the paper molds, the epoxy-coated fabric received a ceramic shell coating similar to a lost wax cast. By casting socks, I transformed a lowly everyday item into an objet d'art.
Nudle
Date: 2015
I designed Nudle after my dog swallowed an entire chew bone and had to get it surgically removed (on Labor Day, at the emergency vet, for a lot of money).
After trying various improvised clamps from the hardware store, I wanted to make something specifically for dogs. I modeled 2-piece clamp fittings in Solidworks and printed it in ABS plastic. It was fastened together with wing nuts which were sunken for safety.
The S-shaped toy fits over a bully stick or bone and encourages the dog to chew rather than gulp down an entire treat. Nudle can serve as a lightweight handle for dogs with joint problems or provide an extra grip for oversized treats. My dog never swallowed a treat whole again.