The Touch of Jazz
EXHIBIT DESIGN, ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
The exhibit invites visitors to experience the influence of jazz and the many ways it has shaped global culture. It encourages personal engagement with the music and offers space to truly feel its impact. With sections dedicated to jazz’s evolution across continents, genres, and eras (alongside a dedicated listening room featuring every vinyl mentioned, where visitors can sit in a distraction-free, dim space with superior acoustics to experience the music), this exhibit offers a journey into the living, breathing soul of jazz.
Design Process
I wanted to focus on hand imagery throughout this piece, calling attention to the true instruments of jazz. They appear throughout the exhibition as quiet guides, drawing attention to the flow of information across each wall. In collaboration, arched, intertwining lines echo the movement of music while breaking down traditional sheet music into fragmented, expressive forms. The visual language of the whole system draws from both New York and New Orleans jazz traditions, balancing structured composition with improvisational energy.
Floor Plan
The floor plan is intended to follow the form of the inner ear as you weave through each section. While walking through the dimly lit exhibit, I wanted the viewer to feel cozy without feeling confined, making sure to leave room for movement.
