Wonder of Water
Wonder of Water adorns Shedd’s historic rotunda, blending a recognition of the past with an eye to the future. The ornate gold crown that connects these dazzling habitats draws your eye upward, encouraging you to take in details like intricate marble features, an aquatic-themed Sterling Bronze Company clock and other architectural marvels built nearly 100 years ago.
Serving as the beating heart of the aquarium, Wonder of Water’s two towering habitats set the tone for an awe-inspiring journey into the aquatic animal world. The size, scope and sensations of the two wondrous worlds will certainly spark deeper connections to life underwater and the astonishing resource that allows all beings great and small to thrive.
Goal: To wonder at the nature of water and how this amazing element is what makes the dizzying array of diverse lifeforms possible on earth.
Message: Diversity on Earth is due to water — the element that allows life to thrive on this planet. Water is why the environments before you are filled with life-forms that are so varied in shape, color, size, form and function.
Supported Outcomes: Animal experiences, both physical and virtual, that create a feeling of awe and wonder.
As a Senior Graphic Designer at Shedd, I supported this project through graphic design, creative concepting, and photo retouching.
Design Process
Several iterations were created with input from Shedd’s animal experts and interpretive team.
Our team wanted to focus on 2 ideas: animal biodiversity and the finite nature of water as a natural resource.
Each graphic panel is meant to represent the freshwater and saltwater habitats in this exhibit.
Client: Shedd Aquarium
Role: Graphic design, photo retouching and compositing
Exhibit design: Sarah Aman
Additional retouching: Robert Frolich, Theresa Bicanic
Creative Direction: Julian Glomb