Client Collaboration · Brand Identity· Visual Systems · Wayfinding · Environmental Graphics

SHIPS of the SEA MARITIME MUSEUM

The Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum’s primary challenge was its unclear and visually understated entrance. From the street, visitors could not easily recognize the property as a museum open to the public, limiting its ability to attract walk-in traffic.

I worked within a 16-person design team led by one faculty mentor, collaborating directly with the museum director and sponsor committee. I contributed to research, visual direction, and a refreshed identity and wayfinding system, including site measurements, entrance signage, interior graphics, stationery, and process documentation. After the museum implemented a temporary entrance sign based on our recommendation, it reported approximately twice its typical weekend admissions.

Time: Sept.-Nov. 2025

Project Type:
Client Collaboration · Team Project

Role:
Brand Designer · Environmental Graphic Designer

Contributions:
Site Research · Wayfinding · Signage Design · Spatial Measurements · Posters · Prototyping

The Challenge

The museum’s identity needed to represent three connected but distinct experiences: the maritime collection, the historic William Scarbrough House, and the event garden. Existing exterior signage made the entrance and garden difficult to notice, while information across the space lacked a consistent visual hierarchy. Our challenge was to create a unified system that could help visitors recognize, navigate, and understand the museum more easily.

The Approach

We began with an on-site visit to observe visitor movement, identify navigation challenges, and document the dimensions and conditions of existing signage. These findings informed a flexible visual system spanning identity, color, typography, patterns, maps, room signage, posters, stationery, merchandise, and digital communication.

My work focused on translating the system into the physical visitor experience. I measured signage locations, developed wayfinding and room-signage concepts, created environmental mockups and prototypes, and contributed posters, stationery, and process documentation for the client presentation.

Final Outcome

The final proposal presented the museum with a cohesive identity and a practical system for applying it across physical and digital touchpoints. During the final presentation, the client responded positively to the selected direction and expressed interest in moving the proposal toward implementation.