DETAILS

Show Imaging

Birch Aquarium

Graphic Designer

Motion Graphics

Illustrator, After Effects, Cinema 4D

OVERVIEW

Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography officially unveiled its newest exhibition — now named Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery — in recognition of a generous gift from The Adam R. Scripps Foundation. For this event, Birch Aquarium approached us to create some show looks for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Along with a welcome hold look, dinner look, speaker look and a branded "living seas" backdrop, they also wanted a kabuki style reveal of the new aquarium name. Inspired by the kabuki drop, I researched Japanese prints and illustrations. There was a lot of use of deep blue and gold to show the depth of oceans, creating very natural undulation with the ink strokes. All of that texture reminded me of kelp drifting under water and the gentle dancing lights that happens when sunlight interacts with the waves. Channeling that inspiration, I made a hold look, dinner look, welcome look and speaker look with a few cameos of a sea turtle and octopus drifting in and out of the loop.

HIGHLIGHTS

This show was extremely calming. Making all of the water haptics from scratch and capturing the gentle flow of the turtle let me zone out to some good music and translate that zen feeling into the animation.