Natural History Museum
December 2021
Wayfinding, Illustration
Los Angeles, California

The Natural History Museum LA is one of the oldest institutions in Los Angeles and an integral cultural and educational center for the community. Hosting exhibitions such as Age of Mammals, the Dinosaur Hall, the Gem and Mineral and much more, the Museum invites visitors of all ages to explore the marvels of the natural world. Today, the museum expands its viewpoint to focus on human impact and the relationships between people and nature.

In redesigning the museum’s wayfinding, I incorporated the works of illustrator Charley Harper. For me, Harper’s work offers a perfect mirror to the Natural History Museum. Depicting a stylized natural world in geometric shapes and bold color, Harper strips down complex forms into simple but expressive figures. Like the museum, Harper offers a window into the natural world accessible to all levels of understanding. By pairing down his illustrations to cut-out lines on metal, the rede- signed wayfinding system offers a playful yet sophisticated ambience to the institution.