Smithsonian "FUTURES" Exhibition
Deliverables:
- Creative Direction
- Videography
- Motion Graphics
As part of the core creative team behind the Smithsonian’s “FUTURES” exhibition, I led the charge on a series of video campaigns, motion designs, and digital visuals that helped define how the exhibition showed up in the world. This wasn’t just about design—it was about shaping a future-forward narrative that could live across platforms.
Objectives
- Highlight What’s Next: Craft bold, forward-facing creative that brought future tech and ideas to life while driving excitement around the exhibition.
- Tell the Story Clearly: Build marketing that reflected the themes of innovation, imagination, and possibility in a way that felt accessible and real.
- Drive Foot Traffic: Use compelling visuals and messaging to cut through the noise and bring people through the doors.
- Generate Buzz: Leverage digital platforms to spark conversation and build awareness around the exhibition.
Approach
Concept Development
Worked side-by-side with curators, scientists, and artists to define a unified vision for how FUTURES should show up in the world. From there, I helped shape a visual identity that captured the energy of what’s possible—blending tech, optimism, and design.
Creative Execution
- Digital Assets: Designed animated graphics and visual content for social, web, and email that grabbed attention and kept things moving.
- Video Trailers: Directed and produced short-form videos that teased key features of the show—hands-on experiences, future-forward design, and cultural relevance.
- Cross-Team Collab: Coordinated with internal teams and external creatives to make sure everything—from font choice to animation speed—aligned with the broader vision.
Execution + Rollout
Kept things tight across the board—working with videographers, designers, and social leads to maintain quality and consistency from concept through delivery. Regular touchpoints with the Smithsonian team ensured every asset stayed locked into the overall strategy and rollout timeline.
Results
- Massive Visibility: The campaign drove major attention—media coverage, online chatter, and cultural relevance.
- Record Foot Traffic: The exhibition drew strong numbers, in part thanks to the clarity and energy of the marketing.
- Real Impact: The creative was praised for being both sharp and imaginative—exactly in line with the themes of the exhibition.
- Digital Wins: Social content and trailers saw high engagement and click-throughs, directly feeding interest and attendance.
