Indigenous Knowledge -How to live Sustainably

Problem:

Create a cohesive and educational museum exhibit that highlights Indigenous values regarding sustainable living practices. This group project required designing six informational panels, a tactile interactive exhibit, a promotional poster, and a mock informational pamphlet, with the goal of engaging diverse audiences while respecting the cultural significance of the content.

Solution:

The exhibit, developed in collaboration with Annette Romo and Gabrielle Doshier, integrates thoughtful design with educational storytelling to foster understanding of Indigenous sustainability principles. Key elements include:

• Exhibit Style Guide:
  A consistent visual identity featuring white sans-serif text for readability, set against an earthy dark brown-grey background. There are also 6 colors that each are assigned to a sustainability principle.

• Informational Panels:
  Six panels were designed to present text written by Barbara Sudick, visually harmonized to align with the exhibit’s style guide. Each panel is color-coded to its principle with panel headlines match their assigned color, and black-and-white images at the top of each panel are tinted with a low-opacity overlay of the same hue.

• Tactile Exhibit Concept:
  A conceptualized wooden scale that invites users to balance carved wooden balls labeled with Surplus, Wealth, and Waste on one side and Basic Needs, Essential Supplies, and Comfort. This interactive element is meant to demonstrate the Indigenous principle of fair distribution, illustrating the balance between individual needs and communal/environmental wellbeing.

• Mocked-Up Exhibit Space:
  The panels and entrance design were mocked up in a realistic exhibit setting to visualize how the space would look and function.

• Promotional Materials:
  A striking exhibit poster designed by Gabrielle Doshier and a mock informational pamphlet created by Annette Romo provide supporting materials to promote and guide the exhibit experience.

This project demonstrates a respectful, visually engaging approach to presenting Indigenous sustainability values, ensuring accessibility and thought-provoking interaction for museum visitors.