The Design Complex
Challenge: To develop and brand a proposal to commercialize the Moran plant on the Burlington waterfront.
Solution: The Design Complex; a new Leed certified expansive art space for the expansion of the BCA.
Why: To help create a more comprehensive place for local artists and their art to be created, and displayed. Burlington is known as “one of the most livable cities for the arts”. As the expansion of the previous Mayor’s Art Council (MCA) into the BCA, this project can help shift the Burlington City Arts program to the next level by moving to a more extensive space for the community.
Read more about The Design Complex here.
Download: small poster, large poster, the viewfinders, the two postcards Perkins Pier and valley range.
The Design Complex was a concept that was entered into the AIGA Vermont Student Competition in 2013. The challenge was to repurpose the Moran Plant; an abandoned waterfront property on Lake Champlain. The entry placed in the top six and was given an honorable mention.
Animation
Animation Assets
The logo took various forms during early development stage. The first few drafts were all focused on the shape of the building but in a more 2-dimensional form. As the logo developed more it took on a 3D form, and eventually went back to a 2D format, but looked like it was 3 dimensional. The logo eventually was designed to fit within a hexagon shape giving it a much more uniform and unique look compared to the earlier ideas.
Logo concepts
24'“ x 24” Large format posters were created to help showcase the event. These would have been hung at or outside of local businesses to help promote the event. The poster is a straightforward explanation of what the space is all about. The community would be encouraged to partner with the complex for events throughout the year.
Posters
The three large abstract posters below are reflective of a print series. Each poster distributed would be unique by removing pieces of the logos, creating 135 unique posters. The Complex would encourage the community to contribute their own works of art to be part to help promote the facility. This would help create a partnership to help the artist sell work and give part of the proceeds to the complex to help keep the lights on.
Artist Viewfinders
A set of six artist viewfinders were created for the event. Below you can see how they are intended to be used. As the space was all about making, creating, and community a large amount were produced for the opening for viewers and the judges to use when the show opened. Each viewfinder would have “Learn”, “Create”, or “Imagine”.
Postcards
Postcards were also produced to help promote the Complex. These would consist of pieces of artwork donated by the community as a way to help support the center as well as give back to the artist when pieces of artwork would be purchased. These postcards were prints that I produced while taking classes at the BCA during my undergraduate degree. One was a block print, and the other a solar etching