JOHN G. SHEDD AQUARIUM

Exhibit Graphic Design | Art Direction

Exhibit Designer: Julie Adams

Photo credit: Brenna Hernandez

The Shedd Aquarium was planning to renovate one of their original galleries, Local Waters, to an updated exhibit space exploring the Great Lakes. They were looking for a more immersive experience to better connect visitors with the lakes and as the exhibit graphic designer on the project this meant taking the lack of colorful and flashy wildlife that live in these waters and making them cool—challenge accepted.

I was inspired by a page of bottle caps that I found while making mood boards and quickly became interested in the idea that these freshwater habitats, with their dark and broody first impression and friendly welcoming inhabitants, were just like your average midwestern dive-bar (watering hole, ha).

That led to this concept: Take a trip along the great lakes and you will find not only some pretty rad and friendly fish, but certainly a spot or two along the way to hang your hat.

My research started to reflect this concept while I pulled visuals of neon signage, rustic metal textures and stained wood. Though the “dive-bar” pitch wasn’t family friendly enough to make it past my initial explorations I still found ways to sprinkle the original concept through the 60 species habitat. And who knows, maybe someone will chuckle at the connection as they pet the prehistoric sturgeon with it’s subtle midwestern charm?

Graphics shown:
- exhibit panel system
- exhibit brand development