Cora Wilson
[About]
[Contact]
Oysters Make Great Neighbors, Exhibit Identity, Signage
Constant Chorus, Placemaking, Wayfinding
India Basin Waterfront Park, Signage
Luna, Packaging, Brand Identity
John Muir Health, Signage, Wayfinding
Fifth Third Bank, Experiential, Wayfinding
St. Xavier Athletics, Experiential
More
Oysters Make Great NeighborsExhibit Identity, Signage
2025
An interactive, multi-touchpoint museum and citywide experience exploring the role of oyster restoration in New York City’s ecosystem by connecting environmental history and community action.
Completed during internship with G&A
How can we empower New Yorkers to become leaders in restoring the ecosystems that define their city?
Oysters Make Great Neighbors is a temporary exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History located in New York City created in collaboration with the Billion Oyster Project.
Using oysters as a lens to explore how the New York Harbor’s ecosystem and identity has evolved over time and how restoration efforts today are shaping its future. Through stories, media, and physical interaction, visitors are invited to reflect on their relationship to the city’s environment.
Visitor Journey:
The visitor journey was designed as a layered experience that begins outdoors and culminates inside the American Museum of Natural History, guiding audiences from curiosity to engagement and action.
NYC Reef Trail
Outdoor Engagement
A citywide outdoor activation along the New York City harbor featuring eye-catching physical touchpoints. These installations draw in passersby, introduce the exhibit’s core themes, and invite visitors to continue their journey at the American Museum of Natural History.
I led the development of the NYC Reef Trail, shaping its concept, physical presence, and role within the larger experience.
Time TravelerDigitial Interaction
An interactive kiosk that introduces visitors to the historical role of oysters in New York City. The experience uses gamified exploration to spark curiosity and encourage active learning.
Billion Oyster Project StoriesPhysical Interaction
A tactile, physical interaction that connects visitors to the stories of individuals and volunteers leading oyster restoration efforts through hands-on elements and narrative vignettes.
Reflection WallPhysical Interaction
A participatory space where visitors reflect on what they’ve learned and share personal thoughts or stories related to the exhibit’s themes.
Visual System:
To engage a younger audience while honoring the historical narrative, the visual system uses a collage-based approach combining texture, cutouts, and layered imagery. This creates a tactile, approachable aesthetic that supports our storytelling.
Visual Look and Feel
Typography
Color Palette
New York City Reef Trail Development:
Signage Look and Feel Inspiration
Signage Material Exploration:
The materials chosen for this signage system draw inspiration directly from tools used in restoration projects. The form echoes the structure of oyster crates used for collection and transportation. Overall, the grid is simple, transparent, and become a modular feature in the design system.
Recycled Oyster Crates:
Structure, unity, and collaboration
Sea Stone:
Strength, durability, and sustainability
Sign Family Overview:
Color Coding System:
Developed to distinguish each of the three locations, with dedicated colors drawn from the established palette. This system supports intuitive wayfinding while maintaining visual consistency across the New York City Reef Trail, giving each site a recognizable yet distinct identity.
Final Elevations:
Final Render:
New York City Reef Trail along Hudson River Park