A class project brought us together with the town of Phoenixville, PA. An old steel town working its way back to prominence, Phoenixville has a growing art and night scene, but still has a way to go. My system for the town is dark and understated, hinting at the hidden depth of the town. Forms are drawn directly from the town, some clear, some abstract.

The logo emphasizes the artistic nature of the town, as well as stressing the importance of French Creek, on which the Phoenix steel mill was built and divides the town. Three sub-brands were also developed, each unique but built on common foundations. Banners would be used to introduce the town on the outskirts and gateways would be placed inside the town borders closer to the downtown. Specialized gateways would be designed for major and unique entrances, such as those going an underpass. Pedestrian kiosks were kept small and flat, as many of the downtown sidewalks are quite narrow and cannot support large signs.

“A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.” –Roald Dahl

For this assignment, we were given a task (to promote reading) and a location (an English double-decker bus). From there I decided to target middle school students with the absurdity of Roald Dahl’s stories. As more and more children are turned off to reading at an early age because it is boring, we need to excite them with extraordinary books. Dahl does just that. From the ever-popular Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Matilda and the oft-missed Witches, “A Little Nonsense” gives visitors a taste of the fun reading can be! Visitors are led through the space by a variety of characters, shown in their original forms as illustrated by Quentin Blake.

class: Commercial Exhibit Design
size: 30′ × 20′ × 15′ (theoretical)

Tesla Motors, a groundbreaking electric car company, was my chosen focus for this project. Using ideas and forms inspired by Nikola Tesla, Constantin Brancusi, industrial noir, and the company’s branding, I sought to create a modular exhibit which would inform and delight, all while giving center stage to the cars themselves. The sweeping staircase not only gives access to an additional conference room and storage space, but allows visitors to view the cars from above, a critical viewpoint if one is to truly appreciate the attention to detail and form the designers invested.