Background
Since 2021, I’ve designed graphics for every exhibition at the Leventhal Map & Education Center. This ongoing collaboration has given me a deep understanding of their curatorial process, audience, and the constraints of their space. For Processing Place, I created the exhibition’s graphic identity, defining the look and feel, typography, color, patterns, and wall treatments.

Challenge
The exhibition presented a large collection of objects of varying sizes and formats, all of which needed to feel integrated within a single system. The curators wanted the show divided into clear sections, with recurring touchpoints that guided visitors between pre-digital and digital mapping practices.

The graphics had to work for visitors who read closely as well as those who skim. Housed in the historic, high-traffic Boston Public Library, the LMEC gallery requires every exhibition to be temporary and flexible. I turned those parameters into a system of adhesive grids and dimensional panels that delivers impact for visitors without sacrificing an immersive experience design.

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Approach
I built the system around a grid, referencing both geospatial mapping and the pixel. That foundation connected directly to objects like the digitizing puck, once used to trace maps into GIS software. I filled squares with color to create headers, shadows, and emphasis, turning the grid into a flexible structure. For typography, I used a pixel-script font for titles and a monospaced computer face for object details, tying the graphics to the language of early computing.

I designed a highlighted annotation system to connect framed maps with their labels, making relationships clear at a glance. Adhesive wall labels with a grid background formed the base layer, while PVC-mounted reproductions added hierarchy and depth. To support different reading styles, I used solid-filled headers to mark each section, giving visitors a clear entry point whether they skimmed or read closely.

Reflection
The project achieved its core aim: turning dense content into graphics that felt approachable, structured, and engaging. The system proved effective within LMEC’s ongoing program, requiring no significant adjustments for future projects.