Genius Within
Overview
Client: MIT / Innovators for Purpose
Timeline: 2018-2025
My Role: Lead Visual/Experience Designer, Researcher, and Mentor
Timeline: 2018-2025
My Role: Lead Visual/Experience Designer, Researcher, and Mentor
Challenge:
How might we honor Cambridge's inventive spirit with inclusion and warmth? MIT’s Entrepreneur’s Walk of Fame needed an installation that reflects not only achievement, but diversity; something that would invite everyone to see themselves as “geniuses.”
How might we honor Cambridge's inventive spirit with inclusion and warmth? MIT’s Entrepreneur’s Walk of Fame needed an installation that reflects not only achievement, but diversity; something that would invite everyone to see themselves as “geniuses.”
MIT's Entrepreneur Walk of Fame
Strategy & Vision
To embody inclusivity, the installation combines interactive elements like rotating cubes and mirrors, with digital storytelling via QR-linked content. My design strategy prioritized approachability: moving away from cold, technical aesthetics towards a more vibrant, human-centered palette and fun, futuristic typography. Every element was designed with accessibility in mind, from the height and angle of interaction to the ways people could meaningfully engage with the installation.
Process & Iteration
Early designs leaned heavily on standard tech-blue and rigid layouts. With feedback and research, I introduced warm tones (yellow, red), softened typographic hierarchy, and reorganized layouts to enhance human interaction.
I mentored my students through creating layout prototypes, presenting user walkthroughs, and applying feedback to refine the design.
I focused on refining the design from an “analytical display” to a more welcoming landmark, ensuring balance with structure and expressiveness.
Before review
After review
Execution & Details
- Physical Installation: Stacked rotating cubes, with mirrored surfaces allowing viewers to see themselves, amplifying identity and belonging.
- Typography & Color: Warm accent colors paired with strong typographic structure to maintain readability from afar.
- Accessibility Features: Height-adjusted mirrors; tactile cues; interactive QR access; materials chosen for visibility and durability.
Impact & Reflection
Working on this project for five years has really sharpened my ability to design at the intersection of public experiences, identity, and spatial storytelling. Mentoring innovative youth designers reinforced the importance of collaboration and empathy in design. I’m proud of how the design evolved to be more human, more inclusive, and more resonant.
The Genius Within is currently installed at One Broadway in Kendall Square, turning concept into lived experience.
