PROJECT OVERVIEW
In This Place is an immersive exhibition within the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center that explores the historical and contemporary significance of freedom, identity, and justice. The experience integrates spatial design, media, and storytelling to create a powerful, multi-sensory environment that invites reflection and dialogue around complex social narratives.
LOCATION & SQFT
Cincinnati, Ohio, 1500 sqf
ROLE
Led and designed immersive exhibition environments that translate complex narratives into engaging spatial experiences. Developed interactive and multi-sensory concepts to enhance visitor engagement and accessibility, collaborating closely with media developers, AV specialists, and content teams to integrate storytelling across physical and digital touchpoints. Contributed to projects emphasizing inclusive design, personalized visitor journeys, and emotional connection, while leading design development from concept through production and fabrication.
Visual Language & Narrative Strategy
The exhibition’s visual language was developed to reinforce its narrative and emotional impact. Color palettes draw inspiration from Aminah-Brenda Lynn Robinson’s RagGonNon tapestry, Black Panther Party ephemera, and The Migration Series, using vivid yellows, purples, blues, and greens to evoke creativity, resilience, and balance.
In In This Place, immersive blue lighting washes across the space, referencing the waterways and landscapes traversed by freedom seekers. This atmospheric approach supports spatial storytelling, using light and color to guide movement and deepen emotional engagement.
Artifacts spanning from the 1800s to the present—including shackles, Jim Crow signage, civil rights materials, and Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves—anchor the experience in real histories of resistance and resilience. These elements connect past and present, reinforcing the exhibition’s role as both a site of reflection and a platform for ongoing dialogue.
As the entry point to the Freedom Center, the exhibition activates a strong sense of place—highlighting local narratives while supporting a broader vision of inclusive freedom at both community and global scales.
