Skin

Dense biology made approachable through illustration and touch

Project Overview

Skin is a large-scale exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences that explores the biology, evolution, and function of skin across species. The exhibit combines large-scale environmental graphics, tactile models, interpretive illustrations, and interactive stations to guide visitors through topics ranging from camouflage and regeneration to healing, protection, and communication. I was responsible for shaping the exhibit's visual storytelling through layered graphics, tactile interfaces, and educational experiences, blending science and design to create a cohesive visitor journey.

My Goal

With this project, I wanted to translate complex scientific content into visual experiences that were both intuitive and delightful. My focus was on making dense biological information feel approachable, especially for younger audiences and those unfamiliar with the topic. I aimed to create entry points through color, illustration, and interaction—designing experiences that could be read, touched, and remembered.
Skin exhibit entryway: the words "what is skin" set against a wall of enlarged animal skin patterns — gecko, snake, and bird plumage.

The Process

The process began with deep collaboration across teams, including biologists, writers, exhibit fabricators, and accessibility consultants. I worked closely with the content team to identify key scientific takeaways and transform them into layered visual systems, from micro-level skin diagrams to large-scale wall graphics. Illustration played a major role in helping visitors connect to the invisible processes happening under the skin. I also designed tactile graphics and interactive features to support kinesthetic learning, ensuring visitors could engage through touch and exploration. Throughout, I kept accessibility, flow, and clarity at the center of the design process, making sure every element contributed to a more inclusive and impactful experience.
Skin

Role and Contributions:

Environmental Graphic Design
Illustration and Diagrams
Information Design
Interactive and Tactile Integration
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Animated wall display of human skin in cross-section, showing cells forming at the base of the epidermis and travelling to the surface.Detail of the skin-layers wall graphic: magenta and tan cell structures with the multilingual callout "new skin born here."
A large, animated wall display describes the various layers of human skin, including sensory elements, and showcases the human skin growth process.
Cross-section illustrations comparing skin structure across fishes, mammals, amphibians, and birds.
Cross sections of skin illustrate the unique aspects of different types of animal skin, including fishes, mammals, amphibians and birds.
Visitors using the disparities table, moving its physical markers to compare outcomes.Infographic table using physical elements to show disparities in arrests, medical prescriptions, and housing access across skin colours.
An infographic table uses physical elements to display some of the social disparities amongst people with different skin colors, including information related to arrests, medicinal drug prescriptions, and even housing opportunities.
Gallery view of the Skin exhibit, with large-scale graphics, specimen cases, and interactive stations.
Full-size infographic mapping the microbiome communities living across the human body.Interface design for the touch interactive that demonstrates how skin responds to temperature, texture, vibration, and pressure.
The installed touch interactive, with hand-sized sensor pads visitors press to feel each type of stimulus.
A range of infographics representations, including an illustrated panel showcasing the layers that make up a rhinoceros horn, a full size infographic of human microbiomes, and a physical interactive that delivers a hands-on lesson in how skin responds to stimuli like temperature, texture, vibration, and pressure. I developed a diagrammatic cross-section illustration style for skin that was that basis for many graphics and animations throughout the exhibit.

Outcome

The exhibit became one of the museum’s most tactile and visually engaging experiences. Visitors spent extended time interacting with displays, and feedback from both educators and guests praised the clarity and beauty of the visual system. The project set a new internal standard for combining detailed science communication with sensory, inclusive design. Many of the visual and interaction strategies were later adopted for future gallery projects.

What I learned

Designing Skin reinforced the value of working across disciplines and formats. It deepened my understanding of how scientific storytelling can be made both rigorous and approachable, especially when paired with tactile and visual design. It also taught me how to structure content in layers, offering multiple ways in for visitors with different learning preferences, needs, and levels of prior knowledge.

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