Posts Tagged design
smithsonian museum of natural history: behind-the-scenes
I am very grateful to have had an internship at the National Museum of Natural History this past fall. With a background in graphic design and a fascination of other cultures, I arrived at the museum with the desire to learn about the programs and projects of the Arctic Studies Center, as well as the inner-workings of the Smithsonian itself.
On my first day I found my way through the maze of hallways in the anthropology department with Beatrix Arendt, my primary advisor, and began work on several digitization projects that I would continue in the coming months. In addition to scanning and editing slides from Stephen Loring’s archives, I worked with Beatrix to create a map of the North Atlantic region for a publication, as well as a map of Newfoundland and Labrador illustrating French, English, and Basque settlements. I also helped digitize site plans from excavations of 18th-century Inuit sod houses on Anniowaktook Island and Adlavik Island. Interpreting field notes, drawings, and photographs and translating them to vector art was a very interesting process. I enjoyed the challenge of creating a visually cohesive system to represent the materials found at each site and finding ways to differentiate them so each element could be seen in context. At the Museum Support Center, I had the opportunity to familiarize myself with the artifacts themselves as I assisted with cataloging and photographing material from the Adlavik collection. Involvement with these projects sparked my interest in Labrador Inuit culture and allowed me to realize the importance of community archaeology, preservation of heritage, and other initiatives of the Arctic Studies Center.
As an intern I was able to participate in various activities throughout the museum. A few memorable events were: the informative new employee orientation where I learned about the internal organization of the Smithsonian Institution from the director, Dr. Cristián Samper, as well as other members of the executive staff; a tour of Written in Bone: Forensic Files of the 17th-Century Chesapeake with the curator of the exhibit; a behind-the-scenes glimpse of taxidermist Paul Rhymer’s work in the the Exhibitions department; and a fascinating excursion into a pod at the Museum Support Center. Experiences like these exposed me to the various departments of the museum and the significant role museums play in our society.
Working with everyone at the Arctic Studies Center has been an incredibly rewarding experience and a genuine pleasure. Thanks to this internship, I am inspired to partner with cultural institutions in the future.
Check out the Arctic Studies Center online! www.mnh.si.edu/arctic
new graphic design portfolio website hosted by HostPapa
My portfolio website, annaeshelman.com, is launched! This site is hosted by HostPapa who purchases 100% renewable energy (wind and solar) to power their servers, computers, and office spaces.
my green graphic design blog: a resource for sustainable thinking
I’ve imported several posts from my old blog which I created for a class I took called Climate Change and Sustainability for Artists + Designers. Here’s some information about “viridianarium”, an information resource for graphic designers looking for ways to “green” their work:
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After completing a number of online carbon footprint calculators, I found that although there are ways I am helping to minimize my CO2 output, there are still many changes I could make to further reduce my global impact. The calculators’ questions inspired me to thoroughly investigate my life and research how to reduce my carbon impact at home, on the go, and as a designer.
This personal research prompted me to create a resource for myself and other graphic designers who want to incorporate sustainable practices into their work (Viridiarium). I am constantly learning new information not only about the severity of the climate crisis, but also about how positive actions, on the individual, local, and global levels, really can (and do) make a difference. Designers have the power to inform, inspire, and hopefully initiate change — even if this change is as simple as changing light bulbs or switching from buying paper made from virgin lumber to paper with recycled content.
To read more, check out my sustainability blog (http://viridiarium.wordpress.com/). Although I’m permanently moving to annaeshelman.com/blog, I’ll keep the old wordpress blog open for viewing.
