Lab Grade Libations

Lab Grade Libations

Role

Exhibit Designer
Graphic Designer
3D Artist

Scope

Digital Exhibit Concept
Branding System

Tools

Blender
Adobe Suite

The Project

A Dash of Science:

Lab Grade Libations is a proposed museum exhibit that allows visitors to experience the psychology and chemistry of cocktails in new ways. Through a variety of visuals and interactives visitors uncover the delicate balance of mixology, as well as the science of sensations, aeration, and intoxication.

The Process

The Process

The Process

Overview

This project consisted of multiple elements, designed to fit together into one cohesive design system. Following with the inspiration of a speakeasy styled exhibit, I wanted to create a hypothetical experience where visitors could explore the science of mixology. For this project I created a logo, band guidelines, label designs, and exhibit concept.

Logomark Development

A refined mark that layers the combined silhouette of a beaker and mixing glass with an elegant yet dynamic twist of citrus peel. The combination of sharp and round shape language mimic the uncommon combination of cocktails and scientific thinking.

Final Logo

A lockup that seamlessly integrates the title of the exhibit with the logomark. Small moments of interaction keep the lockup feeling cohesive and dynamic.

Colors

Warm and inviting yet slightly invigorating and mysterious. This palette evokes the hushed buzz of the bar atmosphere. The primary purple hue is dark yet warm, while the creamy white brings a quiet contrast. A vibrant orange brings heat and energy that is balanced by the hushed muted green.

Typography

Fisterra captures the slightly flashy feel of the cocktail world. A bold and dynamic font that captures the attention of visitors without compromising legibility.

Mrs.Eaves compliments the strong message that Fisterra brings while remaining subdued enough to maintain functionality as a body font.

Final Work

Final Work

Final Work

Section 1: Divine Balance

Section 1: Divine Balance

Section one is about the all important ratios of creating the perfect cocktail. Visitors sit at a mock bar in front of touchscreens. Each touchscreen has an interactive game that allows users access behind the bar to attempt to make their own recipes. After they digitally shake up their creation they receive points based on how close they were to creating a drink with the ideal ratio of sweet, sour, and bitter. As an additional bit of ambiance, the bar back houses five large screens that display an artistic representation of a drink’s pH based on how many people are sitting on either side of the bar.

Section one is about the all important ratios of creating the perfect cocktail. Visitors sit at a mock bar in front of touchscreens. Each touchscreen has an interactive game that allows users access behind the bar to attempt to make their own recipes. After they digitally shake up their creation they receive points based on how close they were to creating a drink with the ideal ratio of sweet, sour, and bitter. As an additional bit of ambiance, the bar back houses five large screens that display an artistic representation of a drink’s pH based on how many people are sitting on either side of the bar.

Section 2: Trigeminal Twist

Section 2: Trigeminal Twist

Section two focuses on the sensations of a drink. While it is easy to focus on flavor when exploring mixology, there is a lot of science behind the feeling a drink creates. Sensations such as the cooling of mint, the burning of spice, the bubbling of carbonation, the silky texture of an egg white are all transmitted via the trigeminal nerve and make an enormous difference in the experience a drink creates. This section features a 360° projection and 5 beakers that emphasizes different aspects of a cocktail that activate the trigeminal nerve. All capped off with a larger than life diagram of the nerve itself.

Section two focuses on the sensations of a drink. While it is easy to focus on flavor when exploring mixology, there is a lot of science behind the feeling a drink creates. Sensations such as the cooling of mint, the burning of spice, the bubbling of carbonation, the silky texture of an egg white are all transmitted via the trigeminal nerve and make an enormous difference in the experience a drink creates. This section features a 360° projection and 5 beakers that emphasizes different aspects of a cocktail that activate the trigeminal nerve. All capped off with a larger than life diagram of the nerve itself.

Section 3: Air and Water

Section 3: Air and Water

Section 3 deals with the important concept of aeration and dilution. By allowing visitors to experiment with their technique by shaking tins and stirring glasses with accelerometers in them, visitors learn exactly how bartenders know when a drink has had the perfect amount of air and water introduced. As users shake and stir, their inputs are visualized on the displays in front of them while it is explained how air and water chemically affect cocktails.

Section 3 deals with the important concept of aeration and dilution. By allowing visitors to experiment with their technique by shaking tins and stirring glasses with accelerometers in them, visitors learn exactly how bartenders know when a drink has had the perfect amount of air and water introduced. As users shake and stir, their inputs are visualized on the displays in front of them while it is explained how air and water chemically affect cocktails.

Section 4: What's The Buzz

Section 4: What's The Buzz

Section 4 serves to inform visitors about the effects of alcohol on the body from a scientific perspective through an immersive projected experience. As visitors sit in a bar style booth a video is played that emulates the rest of the bar atmosphere through the eyes of someone who has become intoxicated. Eyes blur, reactions slow, decisions become impaired, all of these side effects are explored and explained through a scientific lens.

Section 4 serves to inform visitors about the effects of alcohol on the body from a scientific perspective through an immersive projected experience. As visitors sit in a bar style booth a video is played that emulates the rest of the bar atmosphere through the eyes of someone who has become intoxicated. Eyes blur, reactions slow, decisions become impaired, all of these side effects are explored and explained through a scientific lens.

Labels: Intro

Labels: Intro

Displayed directly facing the entrance of the exhibit, the intro text takes a playful twist, with the text mimicking the counterform of the exhibit’s logomark.

Displayed directly facing the entrance of the exhibit, the intro text takes a playful twist, with the text mimicking the counterform of the exhibit’s logomark.

Labels: Section

Labels: Section

Each section features its own label formatted to allude to a cocktail menu, with information interwoven with illustrative depictions of different drinks.

Each section features its own label formatted to allude to a cocktail menu, with information interwoven with illustrative depictions of different drinks.

Labels: Object

Labels: Object

Individual object labels continue the theme of alluding to elements of type found in a bar, this time evoking a cocktail napkin. Their square aspect ratio and bold patterned border make a very realistic element of the bar into a source of information for each object and interactive in the exhibit.

Individual object labels continue the theme of alluding to elements of type found in a bar, this time evoking a cocktail napkin. Their square aspect ratio and bold patterned border make a very realistic element of the bar into a source of information for each object and interactive in the exhibit.

Collectable Glassware

Collectable Glassware

As an additional element of this design system, a small collection of themed glassware was designed to serve as a collectable for the institution’s gift shop. Each glass features some element of scientific glassware, some taking the shape of beakers and all adorned with a more scientific version of the logomark. As an added elegant element each glass has the signature twist etched into its surface bringing together a truly unique piece fit for any lab grade libations.

As an additional element of this design system, a small collection of themed glassware was designed to serve as a collectable for the institution’s gift shop. Each glass features some element of scientific glassware, some taking the shape of beakers and all adorned with a more scientific version of the logomark. As an added elegant element each glass has the signature twist etched into its surface bringing together a truly unique piece fit for any lab grade libations.