Art Department Triennial
2026 - EXHIBITION
TOOLS STACK
Illustrator, Indesign,
After Effects, Photoshop
Figma
CONTRIBUTORS
Marianna Cruz
Riley Earl
Cindy Wu
SKILLS
Brand Identity, Digital Design,
3D, Motion Graphics
ROLE
Lead Visual Designer
Product Designer
TIMELINE
6 Weeks
WORKFLOW
Type Experiments
Identity System
3D Extension
OVERVIEW
The Art Department Triennial at Cal Poly Pomona is a curated exhibition highlighting creative practices across the College of Environmental Design. The identity needed to hold unity and contrast at the same time.
One show, many mediums, the system had to feel cohesive without flattening that range.
PROBLEM
Unity without sameness
Fine art next to digital next to sculpture. The identity had to feel cohesive without flattening that range into one style.
INSIGHTS
Type contrast can stand in for medium contrast.
A flexible system beats a single decorative motif.
3D extensions only work if the 2D idea is already strong.
SOLUTION
Typographic contrast
I started with 2D typographic experiments, how type, shape, and color could represent the variety in the faculty show. The logotype combines serif and sans-serif letterforms to reflect the range of mediums and voices in the exhibition. Clear layout and color rules keep posters, web, and environmental graphics related without looking identical. Once the 2D system held, I extended it into 3D and motion so the identity could live in digital promo without feeling gimmicky.
REFLECTION
Design for range
The contrast between type styles did more work than any decorative motif. Once that held, the 3D extension felt earned instead of gimmicky. When a show is about range, design the system to hold range, don’t force one aesthetic on every piece.
