We design exhibitions. We care about dialogue, interaction, experience-based learning, and communiti
Operating as usual
Thinc is proud to announce that Showstoppers! Spectacular Costumes from Stage and Screen has been awarded by the 2022 World Design Awards in the Pop-Ups & Temporary Built Category. Congrats go out to our partners: Brian Blythe, Sonic Designs, Brad Peterson, Empire Scenic, and JAG Fabricators!
We took a small break for Halloween to dally in a virtual scavenger hunt in a Spooky Mansion using TheWild. The ghostly avatars of TheWild fit right in with the eerie environment! As did the possibilities of changing scales. Map by potassiumola.
October was Drawing Challenge month at Thinc, where we spent a little time each day responding to a different prompt. Our participating artists created hand-drawn, digital, and AI-generated work. Here are some of our favorite pieces!
Prompts: 1. mask, 2. cave, 3. trees, 4. cowboy, 5. potion, 6. tiger, 7. pet, 8. tail
In the words of Thinc's senior habitat & environment designer, the only way that you can truly understand the essence of a wild place is to actually experience it first hand. Our own David Lazenby, a seasoned traveler and professional wildlife and nature photographer, recently captured these stunning images in Zimbabwe. "It is this up-close and personal experience that I feel manifests itself in the authenticity and level of detail in the immersive zoo, aquarium, and museum environments I create." All images © David Lazenby.
Working with Milwaukee Public Museum has been a blast! We love the quality of craft in the museum, including the mini-dioramas. We also get to see the amazing collections behind the scenes, some of which will be on display in the future museum!
The Thinc team gathered to welcome new team members and celebrate our accomplishments in what has become a lively new tradition. Big thanks to Collective Retreats for hosting our reunion!
We would like to give a warm welcome to the new members who have joined our team over the summer!! From the top left: Chelsey Trejo, James Pase, Ryan Miller and Debra Everett-Lane.
Meet one of our exhibit designers, Shahira Hammad! In addition to her work at Thinc, Shahira is a visual artist that works primarily in graphite but likes to experiment and mix various mediums including acrylic, charcoal, clay, plastic, pastels, watercolors, and ink. She also creates 2D artworks, sculptures and spatial projects, and explores digital fabrication including 3d printing. Her explorations are usually focused on the correlation between the built environment, culture, nature, and time.
“I am very interested in thresholds, blurring borders, and storytelling. I think that's one of the reasons I was so drawn to Thinc... To explore these desires for connection between disciplines, people, and other living things.”
1 Shahira at Thinc’s Willis Tower project in Chicago
2 Shahira pictured with one of my exhibited projects at Hinterland gallery in Vienna
3 One of her projects "Vertumnus Tower" pictured at the Outsider Art Fair in New York
4 Her artwork exhibited in a group show at the Gypsum Gallery in Cairo
5 A closeup of “Vertumnus II”
Happy from our canine Thincers. Thanks for always being our loyal companions! Featuring:
1. Rocho
2. Duke
3. Sadie
4. Leko
Here at Thinc, we play as hard as we work. On our vacations, we've all over the world to places like Japan, Italy, Korea, and the Caribbean. These trips not only rejuvenate us but inspire us to bring various global perspectives to our work.
Happy from our furry Thincers. Thanks for being loyal companions! Featuring:
1. Artemis
2. LouLou
3. Harold, Fayard, & Nicholas
4. Chirpy
5. Lolly
Meet James Pase, Thinc's new senior designer.
"I'm excited to leverage my thirty-year multidisciplinary design and fabrication career with the talented Thinc team. I was looking for an opportunity to get outside of my comfort zone as a designer without giving up the potential to continue designing zoo and aquarium exhibits. Thinc is a great fit!"
1. James (and Jack) sailing on Lake Union
2. Asian Highlands exhibit at Utah's Hogle Zoo
3. Pineped Cove exhibit at Norwalk Aquarium
4. Orangutan Canopy exhibit at Kansas City Zoo
It's National Wellness Month! At Thinc, we have a dedicated team that advocates for the health and wellbeing of our colleagues. This includes planning our annual Summer Party, which helps us grow connections with one another. Looking forward to this year's retreat!
We have the pleasure of working with amazing accessibility partners in our work. It's not just about complying with ADA code—it's an opportunity to get out of our own shoes and deepen the experience in a multifaceted way.
We have a variety of secret talents that add flavor to our work. This illustration at the Skydeck Chicago was done by lead designer Oronde Wright! The graffiti-inspired piece introduces visitors to the “Landmarks” area, which pulls together a patchwork of iconic Chicago public art & streetscapes.
Our work doesn't end after the design is finished! Here's a behind-the-scenes peek at Thincers assisting with the construction work for the Terra Sustainability Pavilion.
We're so excited to be part of the design team for the Future Museum, the new home of Milwaukee Public Museum! Together with Ennead Architects, Kahler Slater, and others, we will help visitors connect with the Museum's historic collection, its cutting-edge research, and the wonders of the world.
On we want to take a moment to honor him and the many other people who contributed to the liberation of South Africa. Their stories, dreams and struggles are preserved for us, and future generations in Freedom Park (SA).
At last we arrive at the signature habitat of Seattle Aquarium’s Ocean Pavilion: the Coral Canyon, which provides multiple views into a teeming reef ecosystem where sharks glide amidst a diverse reef community that includes rays, schooling jacks, and reef fish.
LMN Architects
Turner Construction Seattle
Shiels Obletz Johnsen
seattleaquarium.org/ocean-pavilion
Next up on our tour is The Archipelago, celebrating both the coral reefs that hold more than 25% of our planet’s biodiversity and the mangroves which store 10%-15% of our planet’s carbon. Ninety percent of the life in the ocean is found in the shallow seas close to the coast. The last image is a look in from the outside courtesy of LMN Architects
Seattle Aquarium
Turner Construction Seattle
Shiels Obletz Johnsen
seattleaquarium.org/ocean-pavilion
A new federal courthouse in Harrisburg, PA will be named after Judge Sylvia Rambo who is now 86 years old and is still on the job! Thinc was at the building naming ceremony (with our Architects) to honor her accomplishments and shoot new material for our upcoming exhibit.
http://ow.ly/GbB050JLZb7
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Thinc is excited to be part of Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion! Where we will explore the corners of our one world ocean and how our actions affect our shared planet. The images start with One Ocean Hall, followed by At Home in the Ocean where we are immersed in a world where many of our planet’s most fascinating residents feel most “at home”— underwater. We finish for today with a top view from the West courtesy of LMN Architects Look out for more!
Turner Construction Seattle
Shiels Obletz Johnsen
seattleaquarium.org/ocean-pavilion
Tripadvisor has chosen the Empire State Building as their #1 top attraction in the United States. Their Travelers' Choice 2022 Best of the Best listing calls it an iconic landmark you simply have to see to believe! Check it out this summer! http://ow.ly/bm5W50JE1UM
In belated honor of , we're throwing back to Drop in the Ocean, a VR experience housed within an oversized sea jelly. Through VR, the visitor journeyed through the depths of the ocean as a plankton on a sea jelly's back to discover the ocean's many challenges. To help our Oceans get healthier and stronger, shall we decide together to use less plastic in our lives?
It's great to travel again! Recently Thinc went to Chicago and got to enjoy our work Skydeck Chicago
Prototyping is an essential part of the design process that helps make ideas become reality. Here's a behind-the-scenes peek at the making of World Trade Center 9/11 Memorial
The more toppings, the better the pizza! Have your slice of fun at the Skydeck Chicago t.ly/xW3H
Sometimes nothing beats having a physical model. Thinc's David Lazenby makes anything from "small scale models, produced relatively roughly and quickly" to "larger scale, more detailed models as the final working 'document' used as a reference for on site scenic construction."
Physical models can "convey a more 3-dimensional conceptual scenic approach to what are often quite organic, multi-plane environments in a way that 2D sketches simply cannot. Being modelling clay they also allow for rapid modification, often in the presence of the client."
Thinc Design is headed to !! Look for us there!!
Thinc explores new realities! (Virtual in this case.) Thanks to tools like The Wild we can meet and work (and have some fun) collaboratively on projects in Virtual Reality.
At the Perkins Wildlife Center at Cleveland Museum of Natural History, animals are all around you. Don't forget to look up!
In this business, sometimes you just need to follow your gut.
A complex design idea can begin as a simple sketch. In honor of National Textiles Day, here's a look at the journey from concept to installation at "Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red & White Quilts."
Visiting Chicago this Spring? Get a glimpse of the Windy City's history, architecture, food and more on your way to its highpoint, Skydeck Chicago!
Meet one of our exhibit designers, Jesse Loosbrock!
“I’ve been at Thinc for a little over 5 years, and when someone asks me what I do, I’m still not sure exactly how to describe it. I’ve worked on everything from a soundscape concept for an elevator experience at one of the tallest buildings in America, to a giant mechanical monster that consumes natural resources and poops out consumer goods. In my life before Thinc, I worked in music composition and sound design, so I approach each project and design problem with my own unique perspective and skillset. I believe it’s the combination of a variety of backgrounds, life experiences, identities and talents at Thinc that facilitates our curiosity—a vital tool in our effort to create the most meaningful experiences we can for the communities we work for.”
1 - Jesse working on his thesis project
2 - Teaching kids about zoo design at the Speyer School
3 - Welding a chair he designed in Copenhagen
4 - Getting silly with his colleagues
We’re honored to be part of the design team for the Pulse National Memorial & Museum… to create a place to live our truths, expand our conception of humanity, and find our call to action.
Thinc is proud to announce that we have been selected as a recipient of a 2022 MUSE Creative and Design Silver Conceptual Design Award by the International Awards Associate (IAA) for the media we created for Showstoppers NYC for the Costume Industry Coalition
https://design.museaward.com/winner-info.php?id=9343
Getting ready to slide into the weekend!
We love finding new ways to incorporate fun into our designs, like this otter slide parallel play experience at Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Our projects bring us in contact with inspiring people all the time. We had the opportunity to interview Judge Sylvia Rambo, who was part of a historic group of women appointed to the federal bench in 1979 by President Carter. She became the first woman to serve as Chief Judge in the Middle District of Pennsylvania in 1992. Her trailblazing career will be the subject of an exhibit at the new Harrisburg Courthouse designed by Ennead Architects.
#experiencedesign
As traveling has picked up again, we’ve enjoyed visiting the wonderful institutions we are lucky to work with! Recent trips to Milwaukee Public Museum have been integral to team building and our design process.
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Thinc explores new realities! (Virtual in this case.) Thanks to tools like The Wild we can meet and work (and have some fun) collaboratively on projects in Virtual Reality. #thincdesign #VR #XR #AR #virtualreality #collaboration #remote #exhibitiondesign #experiencedesign #museumdesign #sketch
We're always looking for inspiration around NYC. Several Thincers have recently loved Particular Matter(s), the Tomas Saraceno exhibit at The Shed where we felt ourselves dissolve into a world of vibrations on a giant web. In the galleries, this hypnotic piece shows a web being scanned by a laser sheet, expanding our perception of these intricate natural structures.
Our exhibits are true collaborations. Here we worked with Electrosonic Squint/Opera @TEECOM Chicago Scenic Studios, Inc Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Clark Construction Group and #PalazzoLightingDesign to help visitors at Willis Tower get familiar with the best of Chicago: a true urban playground! Have you been to Skydeck Chicago yet? Video footage courtesy of Electrosonic
In celebration of #womenshistorymonth, we're throwing back to Infinite Variety, designed to evoke quilting circles. The art of quilting has long been a source of community and connection, especially for women. Traditionally considered a domestic women's art form, quilts such as these require tremendous skill and creativity.
#tbt From rendering to final installation, our goal at The Jordan Museum متحف الأردن was to connect modern visitors with their rich pasts by highlighting continuity as well as change. Through multi-sensory interactives we show how Jordan has always been a crossroads of different global cultures. #thincdesign #exhibitiondesign #experiencedesign #museumdesign #thejordanmuseum #middleeast #construction #fabrication #designideas #studio #installation
"I love getting lost in it, really..." Lynne Mackey is one of New York's most accomplished milliners; a designer and creator of hats for performance on stage and screen. She shared her love for creating these "little sculptures" with Thinc's media team for SHOWSTOPPERS!
"Our company is like an orchestra..." Ernie Smith and Penn & Fletcher opened their studio to Thinc's media team, as we prepared for SHOWSTOPPERS! Designed to celebrate the artisans of NYC's Costume Industry as they struggled through COVID-19, voices like Ernie's were at the heart of this exhibition.
At the Expo 2020 Dubai Sustainability Pavilion, visitors reconnect with the wonder of nature and encounter critical issues facing our planet. The whimsical Dissolving Theatre reveals the impact of ocean warming and acidification, illustrating how our consumption affects other species and reminding us that the choices we make today impact our collective future on earth. #expo2020 #terra #thincdesign #sustainability #sustainabilitymatters #environmentalsustainability #consciousliving #environmentalism #ocean #expowow #exhibitiondesign #experiencedesign #museumdesign Grimshaw Architects Eden Project
Being present for onsite installation is critical to our work and it's always exciting to see how the whole experience comes together. Here is a behind the scenes peek at our famous deep dish pizza couch at the Willis Tower! @skidmoreowingsmerrill @squintopera @TEECOM @Clarkbuilds @skydeckchicago @willistowerchicago
Take a ride through Chicago's diverse neighborhoods on our version of the L Train on your way up to Skydeck Chicago Squint/Opera Skidmore, Owings & Merrill #thincdesign #skydeckchicago #streettoskychi #willistower ##skydeckchicago #Chicago #exhibitiondesign #experiencedesign #museumdesign
SHOWSTOPPERS is back! Don't miss your chance to support the talented artisans of the NYC Costume Industry Coalition and see their beautiful work up close. Hurry though - the exhibit closes on December 5th.
We don’t just design for humans – we create fun for animals, too! #tbt to the Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center at the Indianapolis Zoo, where we designed interactives to allow collaboration between visitors & orangutans. At the end, the orangutan chooses who gets the treat! Left: The first in-house prototype of the interactive Right: A more advanced prototype, featuring a member of Zoo staff and Rocky the Orangutan
Good news... SHOWSTOPPERS! has been extended through October!! Don't miss the opportunity to see Costume Industry Coalition artisans' stunning work up close before its return to Broadway and the silver screen. Showstoppers NYC #thincdesign #showstoppersnyc #SaveTheCostumeIndustry #CICRecoveryFund #exhibitiondesign #experiencedesign #museumdesign
It doesn't get more iconic than a summer evening at the Empire State Building. There's one more month of long days and warm nights to head over and enjoy the redesigned 360-degree view experience from the 86th floor! Empire State Building #thincdesign #newyorkcity #empirestateofmind #bigapple #esb #exhibitiondesign #experiencedesign #museumdesign
Borussia Dortmund - Lewandowski
DeutschlandThe New York City Police Museum
Old Slip
Youth Insights at the Whitney Museum
Gansevoort Street
Williamsburg Art & Historical Center
Broadway