The Alice Austen Museum, located in Staten Island, New York, is dedicated to the pioneering work of Alice Austen, a 19th-century photographer known for her innovative and candid portraits. Housed in Austen's former home, Clear Comfort, the museum showcases her extensive collection of photographs, as well as exhibits on the history of photography and her impact on the field. The museum also offers educational programs and events that explore both Austen's life and the broader context of early photography.
During a quick (weekend) conceptual design study, I provided the museum with wayfinding visuals to use in their upcoming fundraising efforts. The hope was to secure local municipal grant money that would provide the funds needed to move forward with this project.
In this wayfinding design project, the camera aperture served as a conceptual framework by framing views in a manner akin to how an aperture controls the focus and depth of field in photography. Much like how an aperture directs the viewer's gaze through a photographic lens, by using aperture principles, visual pathways and focal points to guide visitor's attention and movement could be developed in the EGD system. This approach would provide designed spaces where the intended experience could be carefully curated, making navigation intuitive and aesthetically engaging.
As proof of concept, I focused on ideating forms for two main site monuments: the main entrance and a historical vantage point overlooking New York Harbor.
Form and graphic ideation
