Many of the photos that we collected were quite small and grainy, posing a quality and consistency problem. To help the photos look unified, I intentionally emphasized the graininess of the photos by giving them a halftone appearance, which also gives them a historic, classic look.
Amtrak and Liberty Hill Exhibit
Design a cohesive exhibit that represents Amtrak and the Liberty Hill community of North Charleston, South Carolina. This exhibit will be part of the new intermodal transportation center in Charleston.
InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, AutoCad
Writer, Project Manager,
City of North Charleston, SC (client)
I was provided with a footprint of the exhibit space (see below). There are two entrances—a street side and a station side. Three windows illuminate the space with natural daylight.
After thinking through the exhibit content, I divided the space into three areas—one for Amtrak, one for Liberty Hill, and one area that unites both stories. This way, each entrance has a focal point and story, yet it all ties together.
To create the brand, I focused on the message behind each story to guide design decisions. I also thought through ways to unite the space with color, texture, and thematic elements.
The old Amtrak station in North Charleston, SC (pictured in the round photo above) was demolished and replaced with a new intermodal transportation center. For the exhibit space in the new center, I developed the concept, floor plan, elevations, exhibit structures, branding, and panel designs. Before I began designing, my team at HW Exhibits held a community event for Liberty Hill residents. The purpose of the event was to collect photos and record memories, so we could share their stories in the exhibit. This information served as content guidance for the exhibit. The designs below are conceptual and were presented to our client.
Footprint of the Exhibit Space
Design Challenges of the Space
Natural light in an exhibit can create glare, inconsistent lighting and viewing obstacles.
Windows limit the amount of wall space that can be used in the exhibit.
Having two different entry points in such a small space creates focal point challenges.
Two separate stories (Amtrak and Liberty Hill) must be told in a small space (~414 sf).
The ceiling is tile instead of drywall, which poses installation challenges.
Lighting and Digital Design Considerations
Lighting and Digital Considerations
Digital interactives were planned throughout the space. For the Liberty Hill area, small touch screen displays present an opportunity to share additional stories and photos, which was desired by residents. In the center of the space, a touch table was planned. Track lighting would illuminate the space, providing a way to highlight certain features of the exhibit. Solar window shades would minimize glare and viewing issues in the exhibit.
I selected regal, vibrant purples to represent Liberty Hill’s area of the exhibit, and for Amtrak, complementary greens symbolize the land that Amtrak travels. Gold, ivory, and steel are used for both stories, uniting the space.
I selected “Station No. 1” as the primary header because the characters are reminiscent of a railway. The fonts “Depot” and “Museo Slab” soften the hard lines of Station No. 1. The font “Caveat” brings a personal handwritten touch for quotes and memories.
Some of the exhibit panels have standoffs. To emphasize the railway theme, the standoffs are designed to look like the head of a railway spike.
A subtle incline in the design represents movement—physical movement (of Amtrak’s trains) and symbolic movement (of lifting up the Liberty Hill community).
The two panels below function as a room divider, but keep the space open. The rails are symbolic of the railway.
Salvaged Materials from the Old Amtrak Station
Salvaged Materials from the Old Amtrak Station
Material from the old building façade
Charleston Train Station Sign
Liberty Hill Exhibit Panels
Amtrak and Liberty Hill Exhibit Panels
Amtrak and Liberty Hill Exhibit Panels
The panels below are rough conceptual designs that were presented to our client. The floor plan shows where each panel is located in the exhibit.
Material from the old building façade
Amtrak and
Liberty Hill Exhibit
InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, AutoCad
Writer, Project Manager,
City of North Charleston, SC (client)
I was provided with a footprint of the exhibit space (see below). There are two entrances—a street side and a station side. Three windows illuminate the space with natural daylight.
Natural light in an exhibit can create glare, inconsistent lighting and viewing obstacles.
Windows limit the amount of wall space that can be used in the exhibit.
Having two different entry points in such a small space creates focal point challenges.
Two separate stories (Amtrak and Liberty Hill) must be told in a small space (~414 sf).
The ceiling is tile instead of drywall, which poses installation challenges.
After thinking through the exhibit content, I divided the space into three areas—one for Amtrak, one for Liberty Hill, and one area that unites both stories. This way, each entrance has a focal point and story, yet it all ties together.
To create the brand, I focused on the message behind each story to guide design decisions. I also thought through ways to unite the space with color, texture, and thematic elements.
Some of the exhibit panels have standoffs. To emphasize the railway theme, the standoffs are designed to look like the head of a railway spike.
A subtle incline in the design represents movement—physical movement (of Amtrak’s trains) and symbolic movement (of lifting up the Liberty Hill community).
Many of the photos that we collected were quite small and grainy, posing a quality and consistency problem. To help the photos look unified, I intentionally emphasized the graininess of the photos by giving them a halftone appearance, which also gives them a historic, classic look.
Material from the old building façade
The panels below are rough conceptual designs that were presented to our client. The floor plan shows where each panel is located in the exhibit.
