vanessa lam interview and recent work

center for land use interpretation logo, 2011

vanessa lam is a graphic designer from california who works at wolff ollins in new york. designboom caught up with her to learn more about some of her personal projects.

DB: please can you tell us a bit about yourself? VL: I got bachelor degrees in fine art and mass communications at UCLA before going to art center college of design to study graphic design. after graduating I freelanced in los angeles managing my own clients and projects. needless to say it was a huge learning curve, but I had the great opportunity to work with cultural institutions, art organizations, and non-profits. currently I’m a designer at wolff olins, NY.

besides design what do you have a passion for? nature, history, science (fiction) and fashion. I’m interested in anything that combines systems with the surreal.

what / who is currently influencing your work / approach? I just finished ‘the disappearing spoon’ by sam kane. the book is a fascinating history about the elements of the periodic table and the wild west of scientific discovery. it’s so inspiring to learn how people in other fields think creatively to further the understanding of the world and seeing things (sometimes literally) in new ways.

what has been your defining project so far? the center for land use interpretation project has helped me most in developing as a designer. it also really pushed my notions of researching and design thinking.

what should every designer remember? to get some sun (spoken like a true californian, right?)

what should every designer ignore? the urge to measure yourself against others

center for land use interpretation animated logo, 2011

center for land use interpretation poster, 2011

center for land use interpretation brand identity and applications, 2011 a research and education organization dedicated to understanding the manmade landscape through different disciplines of geography, art, science, and architecture.

the rebrand incorporates patterns used for denoting terrains on maps and appropriates these to create an ever changing, flexible identity. the project also includes an exhibition entitled; ‘hinterland: a voyage into exurban southern california’, which examines the often overlooked and seemingly desolate fringes of los angeles.

transmedia identity includes website, collateral, iphone application, environmental design, poster series, and exhibition catalog.

center for land use interpretation poster (detail), 2011

center for land use interpretation poster (detail), 2011

center for land use interpretation stationery, 2011

center for land use interpretation business cards, 2011

center for land use interpretation branding applied to building, 2011

center for land use interpretation branding signage, 2011

hinterland exhibition graphics, 2011

center for land use interpretation website, 2011

center for land use interpretation app, 2011

ands-on science camp registration form, 2012

ands-on science camp, 2012 california science center, a science museum based in los angeles, asked me to concept and design a campaign for their kids science camp called ‘hands-on science camp’. this campaign includes a catalog, ads, class certificates, banners, and tshirts. the concept reflects the ‘hands-on’ aspect of the camp, using quirky hand lettering and illustrations to counterbalance the technical characteristics of science. the recurring circle motif plays off of the circles used in the CSC logo. illustrations by vanessa lam.

ands-on science camp brochure, 2012

ands-on science camp brochure, 2012

ands-on science camp brochure, 2012

ands-on science camp, 2012

ands-on science camp certificate, 2012

ands-on science camp banner ads, 2012

museum of science and industry, 2011

museum of science and industry, 2011 fictional rebranding of chicago’s museum of science and industry based upon the concept of exploration, innovation, and preservation. the new identity includes a logo, identity collateral, posters, environmental graphics and an extensive guidelines manual.

museum of science and industry, 2011

museum of science and industry, 2011

vanessa lam