Unlike a traditional science museum that attempts to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary to elicit visitor interest, nearly 3 million visitors per year go to Old Faithful precisely because it is extraordinary. They want to learn how it works.

In collaboration with the National Park Service and working with distinguished scientists and educators, my team at Christopher Chadbourne & Associates designed this 5,000 sq. ft. of exhibits to connect the seen to the unseen.

Translucent materials, earth tones, and organic shaped graphic panels were used to imitate the characteristics of hydrothermal features found throughout Yellowstone National Park. In contrast, the “Young Scientists” space is bright and youthful. Brightly colored walls and large stylized characters make this a kid-friendly spot.

Drawing visitors from around the world, it is essential that a multitude of languages be represented there. I was presented with the task of developing a system that would translate four languages: Spanish, German, French and Japanese. I designed two systems; a stand-alone flipbook unit adjacent to a primary level graphic panel and another integrated within the design of the panel itself.

This exhibit opened to rave reviews and was later featured in SEGD (Society of Environmental Graphic Design) magazine.