Communication Design
Research, Visual Design, and Storytelling

Project Overview
The ETHNOMATH poster is a museum-commissioned educational artifact that bridges cultural narratives and mathematical thought through visual storytelling. Designed for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), the project reframes math education through the lens of Indigenous and diasporic knowledge systems—using design to spark dialogue around cultural inclusion in STE(A)M learning.

Problem Space
Mathematics is often taught as a universal, culture-neutral discipline—obscuring the rich histories of non-Western mathematical knowledge. This project set out to:

• Communicate the value of ethnomathematics as a core educational framework.

• Visualize abstract cultural and mathematical principles in a form accessible to museum audiences.

• Create an aesthetic system that merges scientific clarity with symbolic depth.

Solution Highlights

• Visual Storytelling Strategy: Synthesized ethnomathematics research into a compelling poster that uses symbolic geometry, structured layout, and cultural pattern references.

• Culturally Responsive Typography & Color: Selected typographic forms and vibrant palettes that reflect Indigenous visual languages while maintaining clarity and accessibility.

• Exhibition-Ready Design: Balanced intellectual rigor with visual magnetism to support display in public learning spaces like OMSI, as well as digital dissemination.

Research & Design Process

• Conducted deep research into cultural mathematical practices from African, Indigenous American, and diasporic communities.

• Extracted themes of pattern recognition, symmetry, measurement, and storytelling to inform graphic composition.

• Prototyped layouts, refined messaging hierarchy, and prepared assets for both physical exhibition and educational downloads.

Outcomes & Impact

• Delivered a communication design piece that catalyzes discussion around equity and representation in math education.

• Demonstrated how culturally grounded design can serve as both pedagogy and advocacy in public learning spaces.

• Positioned the poster as an accessible yet profound entry point for learners and educators to rethink what—and whose—math is being taught.

Tools
Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Cultural Research Templates, OMSI Display Guidelines