Meteorology
Industry:
MSU Denver
Client:
Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Start:
End:
The project began with a collaboration between MSU Denver's Communication Design program and the Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences to redesign existing display cases within the university's Science Building. The challenge was to create an informative and visually cohesive experience that represented the department's academic programs while encouraging students to explore potential career paths.
Working alongside my design partner, Julian, I focused on developing testimonial displays that showcased alumni experiences after graduation. These displays were intended to create a personal connection between current students and graduates, helping visitors understand how their education could translate into meaningful careers.
Problem solving
My goal was to create a testimonial system that balanced storytelling, readability, and spatial limitations. A central challenge was determining how to communicate detailed alumni experiences within a limited display area without overwhelming viewers with information.
I focused on typographic hierarchy, content organization, and scale to ensure that each testimonial remained approachable and easy to navigate. Working with Julian, I explored how text size, spacing, and layout could establish a clear reading experience while accommodating different amounts of information.
Because the testimonials were part of a larger installation, maintaining consistency with the work of other design teams was equally important. Through collaboration and communication with classmates, we evaluated how our designs could complement the broader visual system while maintaining their own functional purpose.
Implementation
I collaborated with Julian to develop testimonial layouts that organized alumni information into a structured visual format. Each display incorporated identifying information, career details, and personal reflections, allowing viewers to understand both the professional outcomes and individual experiences of MSU Denver graduates.
We explored variations in layout, typography, and proportions to determine how the content would function within the physical display cases. Particular attention was given to type size, spacing, and the relationship between text and supporting visual elements to maintain legibility within the available space.
Throughout the process, we coordinated with classmates responsible for other sections of the installation, ensuring that our testimonial designs aligned with the project's shared visual language. This collaborative approach helped establish consistency across the display system while allowing each section to communicate its own information.
The final testimonial designs became part of the installed Earth & Atmospheric Sciences display system, contributing a human-centered perspective to the department's academic and career information. By highlighting alumni experiences, the displays helped connect the department's educational opportunities with potential professional outcomes.
The project strengthened my understanding of environmental graphic design and the importance of designing information for physical spaces. Working within dimensional constraints challenged me to prioritize content, refine typographic hierarchy, and consider how viewers interact with information beyond a digital screen.
Most importantly, the experience reinforced the value of collaboration and systems thinking. Designing alongside other teams demonstrated how individual contributions must work together to create a unified experience, while the final installation showed how thoughtful visual communication can make educational information more accessible, engaging, and meaningful.
