In a special collaboration between Allrecipes and the Smithsonian Institution, I was asked to design a looping visual presentation for a digital exhibit highlighting the cultural connection between food and the internet.
Custom-designed
Curated & Retouched
From Concept to Final Delivery
Designed to speak through visuals alone
Create a standalone, looping slideshow to be displayed during Food History Weekend at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The deck needed to run silently—no narration, no title or end slides—yet still communicate a compelling and educational narrative.
Unlike a typical pitch or speaker-led deck, this exhibit required visuals to carry the full weight of storytelling. The audience ranged from casual museumgoers to academic researchers, and the content spanned internet adoption, mobile cooking trends, and the rise of food sharing culture. I had to ensure the story was both intellectually engaging and emotionally resonant—without a single line of spoken context.
I owned the project end-to-end, collaborating with internal brand teams and external stakeholders to ensure alignment across design standards and exhibit goals.
The sequence followed a narrative arc without relying on text, ensuring clarity and engagement through intentional visual storytelling.
Strategic use of negative space, and contrast, helped direct the viewer’s eye and control the pacing of the exhibit experience.
Blended Allrecipes’ visual identity with a museum-quality, editorial tone to meet both institutional and consumer expectations.
I approached the project like a silent documentary, using bold photography and crisp type treatments to structure a visual rhythm. Each slide acted as its own story beat—covering digital discovery, mobile meal planning, and food media trends—while working in harmony to tell a broader cultural narrative.
To maintain visual cohesion, I used a limited but expressive color palette inspired by Allrecipes’ brand, paired with clean, modern typography. The layout and visual tone were crafted to feel respectful of the Smithsonian’s legacy—honoring its historical weight—while still feeling fresh, engaging, and visually accessible. There were no animations or PowerPoint tricks here—just thoughtful design choices meant to communicate clearly, stand on their own, and keep viewers immersed without distraction.
The final deck debuted at Food History Weekend and brought digital food culture to life in a museum setting—bridging technology, food, and identity in a way that resonated across generations. The experience was a success for both Allrecipes and Smithsonian, showcasing how powerful visual storytelling can educate and inspire without ever saying a word.
This project is a perfect example of how I blend brand fluency, strategic storytelling, and design systems to create high-impact presentations that go beyond slides—they become immersive experiences. And with experience working with large institutions like the Smithsonian and global brands like Allrecipes, I know how to balance creativity with structure, polish with purpose.
