back in the shire

After four months in DC, I am back in New Hampshire for a while and am keeping very busy with a number of interesting freelance design projects. I hope to post some new work to my portfolio soon.

In addition, I'm enjoying the abundance of fluffywhite via snowshoeing excursions into forest-deep and apple orchards and such.

>> New Hampshire

smithsonian: behind-the-scenes

>> photos of DC.

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

interning at ripe

Although the studio consists of just a few team members, I quickly realized that ripe is no small deal.

During my four-month internship I experienced what it’s like to be a designer in a full service studio. While I was part of the team, I had the opportunity to do a mix of everything - whether it be researching and inspiration-gathering for a new brand concept, designing layouts for a website, sitting in on a client meeting, or final production work for a stationary package. There was always an interesting task to tackle.

It’s been great to work with a team that is just as serious about environmental responsibility as they are about creative, high-quality design. ripe considers how sustainability can affect all aspects of design, from conceptualization to final output. And from bamboo floors to French-pressed coffee, ripe is always seeking newer and cooler ways to become even “greener” around the studio itself.

One of the most valuable experiences I had was being immersed in behind-the-scenes organization of such a productive studio. Staying on task was vital, but the laid back atmosphere helped the day-to-day flow of photoshop files and phone calls, while generous amplification of Pandora radio tended to boost creativity by 300%. And of course, there was an adorable kitten to play with while taking a break from the screen (and occasionally some amazing chocolate dipped bacon lollipops from Farmers & Fishers to munch on)!

Check out the studio: www.ripe.com