Artifacts of Life and Death is a student led exhibition that I worked on while studying at Arcadia University. I took the role of the Design Team lead, working closely with the Exhibition Coordinator and directing a team of 4 designers to assist in the physical layout of the exhibition and asset creation including signage and marketing material. The exhibition was planned and executed within six weeks, with an opening night of over 50 people in attendance.
Left Corner (Production)
Left Wall (Domestic)
Central Wall (General Information)
Right Wall (Funerary)
Right Corner (Credits and References)
Our process started with mocking up our exhibition space. Using existing photos of the artifacts, I worked with the Exhibition Coordinator to layout the space in Photoshop. Through a few versions, we ended up splitting the gallery in half; one side for daily use ceramics and the other side for funerary ceramics. This created a streamlined flow along the perimeter for the audience. They would circle the space clockwise, starting with practical, life sustaining artifacts to the left and ending with funerary ceramics towards the right.
Exhibition Photos
Domestic Pottery and Main Wall
Funerary Pottery and Main Wall
Culture Signs and Spirituality Text
Map of West Africa
Discovery Graphic
Many assets were needed to bring this exhibition to reality. Text was formatted and printed on cut vinyl, as well as signage and graphics presenting information. I delegated general text and signage to my team, guiding them through the process to ensure they were printed to scale and legible. The map and discovery graphic were made to be minimal yet easily understandable, to keep the focus on the artifacts themselves.
Marketing Prints
Poster 1
Poster 2
Postcard 1
Postcard 2
The design team created multiple posters and postcards to hang around campus and hand out during a promotional event in the campus common hall.
We wanted to emphasize the unique textures of the ceramics, so I photographed close ups of some examples and used them in these prints.
We wanted to emphasize the unique textures of the ceramics, so I photographed close ups of some examples and used them in these prints.
Leading the design team for Artifacts of Life and Death taught me how much creative decision making can effect the production and execution of a physical space. Taking the consumer into account is a necessary consideration for even the smallest details, and this valuable practice paid off during the overwhelming turn out for opening night and the extra month extension for the exhibition display.
