The Art of Forensics

Overview

Completed

February 2023

My Role

Graphic Designer

Scope

Brand identity, wayfinding system, icon design, signage, apparel design, stationery design

Tools

This project explores how visual communication can support forensic investigation and public awareness by humanizing unidentified cold cases. Centered on scientific facial reconstructions of unknown remains, the exhibit invites visitors to recognize and potentially identify missing loved ones, requiring a visual system that is both respectful and highly legible. The branding and wayfinding are built around abstract human silhouettes formed from ink and fingerprint experiments, where naturally pooling ink creates suggestive details like facial features or hair, symbolizing identity emerging from evidence. These organic marks became a flexible icon language used across signage, apparel, and stationery, creating a cohesive, empathetic environment that guides visitors clearly through sensitive and emotionally charged content.

Visual Language & Forensic Atmosphere

The moodboard establishes a balance between scientific investigation and human presence, combining evidence-inspired textures with restrained, museum-like typography. Deep reds, neutral bone tones, and muted earth colors reference both forensic markers and archival materials, while fingerprint patterns, ink bleeds, and impression marks suggest identity emerging from trace evidence. Clean, authoritative typefaces paired with bold directional forms create a wayfinding language that feels institutional and credible without becoming cold or clinical. Together, these elements guide the exhibit toward a visual tone that is investigative, respectful, and quietly powerful.

Brand Kit

The identity system blends authoritative typography with fingerprint textures to express both scientific precision and human identity. Franklin Gothic provides a strong, institutional feel, while the distressed treatment of “Forensics” references trace evidence. A minimal palette of white, deep red, and black conveys urgency and respect. Fingerprint-based icons act as flexible markers across signage, apparel, and print, keeping every application rooted in the theme of uncovering identity.

Wayfinding System

Bold typography, high-contrast red accents, and directional arrows create a clear, intuitive navigation system that mirrors the urgency and precision of forensic investigation. Fingerprint and footprint motifs act as visual trails throughout the space, guiding visitors between sections while reinforcing the exhibit’s central theme of identity and discovery.

Branded Apparel & Stationery

Every touchpoint of the exhibit extends the identity beyond the walls and into visitors’ hands. Each ticket includes a branded tote bag and pen, giving guests practical keepsakes that carry the exhibit’s visual language into everyday life. Staff members wear matching T-shirts and lanyards so visitors can easily identify knowledgeable guides, reinforcing both wayfinding and trust. Upon entry, guests also receive a branded wristband, turning admission into a subtle, wearable artifact that connects the experience, the people, and the purpose of the exhibit through a consistent, evidence-inspired graphic system.

Exhibit Poster

Designed for high visibility in public spaces, the poster pairs bold Franklin Gothic typography with fingerprint textures to instantly convey the forensic theme. Repeating fingerprint silhouettes frame the title, hinting at unknown identities and ongoing investigations, while a stark red, black, and white palette ensures strong contrast and readability from a distance. The clean, structured layout makes the exhibit’s purpose and details clear at a glance, creating an eye-catching yet respectful invitation to engage with the stories behind each case.

The Exhibit

Within the exhibit space, each reconstructed portrait is framed by a minimal, museum-style presentation to keep focus on the individual, while a continuous red “caution tape” graphic runs through the room listing broad identifying details such as age range, location, and demographics. Small, discreet plaques beside each piece provide case-specific context, including where the remains were discovered and notable evidence from the scene. This layered system lets visitors quickly grasp essential facts from afar, then step closer to engage with the deeper investigative story of each unidentified person.

This exhibit brings together science, design, and empathy to transform forensic data into human stories that can be seen, remembered, and recognized. By creating a clear visual identity and intuitive wayfinding system, the work helps visitors navigate complex cases while honoring the individuals at the center of each investigation.

The project demonstrates how thoughtful branding can serve a real social purpose, turning an informational display into an active tool for awareness and potential identification. Through restrained visuals and evidence-inspired graphics, the space invites reflection, curiosity, and the possibility of long-awaited closure.