NatureScope
Modern Yet Rustic Graphics For Natural History Exhibit at McWane Science Center.
Modern Yet Rustic Graphics For Natural History Exhibit at McWane Science Center.
In NatureScope, I was tasked with designing graphics that reflected the focus on biodiversity in nature of Alabama. Even the digital technology was presented with a rustic feel. My work in NatureScope consisted of designing and producing backlit graphics, digital graphics as well as signage and graphic panels.
Reclaimed wood gave the NatureScope exhibit area a rustic, natural feel and provided inspiration for the design of signage and instructional graphics which included backlit and digital applications.
One of the challenges of the Birds of Alabama exhibit was organizing the graphics so that all the information fit the limited space of the backlit panels while being readable and easily understood. When the button for a particular specimen is pressed, the backlit graphic in the support under the specimen illuminates while the others dim and the visitor hears a digital sample of its call. The tri-colored bark pattern graphic delineating the three different seasons was matched to the bark on the fiberglass tree section above.
I enjoyed designing the logo and digital graphics for BugScope which features an RFID reader that detects which bug specimen is being viewed under the scope and calls for the corresponding digital content which may include a video.
I created a proof of concept splash screen for BugScope using Adobe Illustrator and Flash. It was not implemented due to time and budget constraints on the project, but I enjoyed working on it.
The combination of digital and print graphics in the NatureScope exhibit area brings the visitor an interactive experience that meshes new technology with traditional methods of providing information while keeping the focus on the subject and specimens.
This presentation area features select video clips from the Discovering Alabama series featuring Dr. Doug Phillips who was pleased with the area when he spoke at an opening event. Educators can also use this area for public programs.
This simple display features bird eggs, bird skulls and even a dinosaur egg with graphics that inform visitors of some of the unique characteristics of various species and their eggs.
The graphics for these aluminum casts of two fire ant nests are simple, but my more significant creative contribution to this particular exhibit was the idea of displaying the casts in the context of being underground, complete with mound, grass & mailbox, so visitors would more intuitively understand what they are.
