Oesper Display Cases
This project was in correlation with the University of Cincinnati’s Oesper Collection. “The Oesper Collections in the History of Chemistry, are a joint venture of the Ralp E. Oesper Chemistry-Biology Library and of the Department of Chemistry of the University of Cincinnati. The Oesper Collections in the History of Chemistry is one of the world's largest curated collections of scientific artifacts, books, journals, photos, and prints related to the history of chemistry.”
During my internship with the chemistry department, I assisted with the design and development of historical display cases that showcase the interesting and seldom seen history of chemistry. This project created engaging exhibits that highlight key developments, influential figures, and local contributions to the field.
These display cases include: Alchemy, Human Side of Scientists, Periodic Tables, Electric Cars and Cell Batteries, The Collectors, Blowpipes, Coal Tar Dye Industry, and Cincinnati Chemists.
Final Installation
Explore the images of the final installation for the Oesper Collection Display cases. A nine month project where I explored the history of chemistry and portrayed that through a visual and physical manifestation. These display cases sit in the new chemistry building on the University of Cincinnati’s campus.
I mainly focused on the “Human Side of Scientists” display cases you see on the right. This was based off the book written by Ralph E. Oesper. The book is an anthology of biographies about various chemists. This book differs to others because Oesper writes about their human sides, their jokes, awkward moments, and relatable content. We wanted to focus on this to attract a larger demographic. People who can stop and read about historical figures. Whether they get a laugh or a new fun fact to tell at the dinner table.
Work in Progress
On the left, you will see the Rookwood Fountain, a big contributor for why this project was able to be accomplished. We drew inspiration from this fountain, through subject matter and color scheme. The fountain portrays alchemy symbols and beliefs.
In the beginning, it was very important for me to do plenty of research. I have no background in chemistry and I wanted to get a bsis of what I was going to design. I took plenty of notes and read plenty of books. This challenged my creative side as I was in an environment full of math and calculations. I had to stretch those barriers into the creative side.
Without having the actual display cases until the very last second, we had to utilize an unused space in the chemistry building. We used old desks and book shelves to imitate the cases. I learned to use what we had an utilize old supplies to mock up the display cases. I also used photoshop to come up with digital mockups using the actual image of the display cases we were going to use.
