Develop a type system to elevate a local artist’s solo exhibit.

Glenna Adkins is a professional artist widely known for her abstract paintings. She believes abstract work makes the viewer think and feel something that activates the brain in a way representational work cannot always accomplish. She held a solo exhibition at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center in Michigan, and while her work was exceptional, the gallery space and materials supporting the exhibit fell flat in bringing it to life. 

I developed a type system to elevate both the artist and her work. The system was used across various applications, including a gallery guide, website, promotional materials, and environmental elements. Through my research, I found that her artwork used neutral tones to ground each piece, but there was always a pop of bright color and fine charcoal lines as added detail. To reflect this, I used thin rule lines and touches of bright pink throughout the system. I chose a sans serif typefaces for the headlines and a serif typeface for the body to evoke a modern yet warm feeling that complements the artist’s work.

PROJECT DATE
Fall 2021

PROJECT TYPE
Exhibit Design

SKILLS
Brand Identity
Visual System Design
User Interface Design
Environmental Design
Typography
Layout
Print