R3ALIZED

Exhibition Design

Expressing the concept of "realized" by focusing on making it bigger through physicality, materiality, and dimensionality by showcasing BFA Graphic Design Level 3 student work on a 14-foot-wide giant “3” installation using bright yellow vinyl hanging across 3 surfaces.

★ Awarded Dean's Spotlight Spring 2024: R3ALIZED Poster

duration
Mar–May 2023
2 months

my role
Art director
‍
Project type
volunteer pro-bono

‍SCOPE
Installation, Design system, Posters, Promotional media, Photo spot, Diagram
‍
TOOLS
Vinyl cutter, Illustrator, Figma, Photoshop, Procreate

The L3R makes a return in-person

At the end of every semester, the Level 3 students in the BFA Graphic Design program at the California College of the Arts prepare to present their work for the Level 3 Review. Ever since the the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted in-person learning, this was the first time that the L3R Exhibition was held in-person on campus at the PLAySPACE Gallery.

We designed a memorable experience for the Spring 2023 Exhibition that celebrates the students' hard work becoming "realized".

R3ALIZE

R3ALIZED

Unique Factors

Back in-person at a bigger scale in a space

This is the first time since the pandemic started that the Level 3 Review Exhibition is back in person, displayed at a proper exhibition space. Compared to last semester’s not-to-scale student work seen in an inconspicuous hallway, the larger space of this semester’s exhibition allows for student work to be printed or displayed bigger at the actual size.

Smaller class: Only 9 students

As there are a fewer number of students participating in the Level 3 Review this semester, there’s an opportunity to include more than 1 piece of work from each student.

Midway celebration

The Level 3 Review serves as a midway checkpoint in the BFA Graphic Design undergraduate program at CCA. Following the Review, the Exhibition can be marked as taking a moment to celebrate, be proud of their work so far, and recognize these designers efforts.

Challenges

Limited spaces for the exhibition

There are 4 potential spaces inside of the main building on campus that have been identified as places where the exhibition can happen in, but need further confirmation for availability, as other events are also happening at the end of the semester. Visibility and accessibility to garner attention to the space is also important to consider.

Level 3 students are busy

As both of our team members have experienced in the previous semester, the Level 3 Review can be a daunting, stressful process for the students with a lot of pressure to pass not only the Review but their classes as well. It may be difficult to contact them to ask them to contribute a lot.

Multimedia submissions?

To what extent should we limit what type of media the students can submit to be part of the exhibition? Depending on the chosen location, it can allow for different types of media ranging from prints to physical objects to digital work or videos on screens.

Concept: 3 as symbol

As the junior review for BFA Graphic Design is called the Level 3 Review, the number "3" became a symbol of three-dimensionality to represent to idea of becoming real. To express the concept of "realized", this meant focusing on making things bigger through physicality, materiality, and dimensionality.

Showcasing the Level 3 students, their work was seen on a 14-foot-wide giant “3” installation using bright yellow vinyl hanging across 3 surfaces. Not only that, repetition of the "3" was seen across the CCA campus and the exhibition through a series of transparent posters and various vinyl stickers.

R3ALIZED
Graphic Design Level 3 Review Exhibition
Spring 2023
May 3–5
PLAySPACE Gallery

Now R3ALIZED!
As thoughts turn into ideas, into designs, and finally into dimensional forms that take up physical space, R3ALIZED captures the process of realizing for designers.
In this R3ALIZED space, this exhibition showcases Graphic Design Level 3 students’ best work from the past 3 semesters.
R3ALIZED captures a glimpse of the students’ reflections upon reviewing their cumulative work. Thinking about what it means to design and what design means to them, this moment of clarity in the midst of the undergraduate program is a turning point in their design journey.
R3ALIZED recognizes these Level 3 students as emerging designers to look out for in the future!
To be R3ALIZED...

Exhibiting Students: Cici Ding, Eve Zhang, Fiona Guo, Jenny Chen, Karry Zhang, Mao Li, Maya Vaughan, Yehao Wu, Yuru Wang

Art Director: Carolyn Kim‍

Exhibition Designers: Carolyn Kim, Cloe Kim

Mentors: Sara Raffo, Rachel Berger