Design Camp Trip to St. Louis
In June 2023 I went on a design camp trip to St. Louis with graphic designers from Middle Tennessee State University. We looked for design “in the wild” and collected inspiration for our package design class. Our three-day trip included a visit to the St. Louis Aquarium, the art museum, a tour of PGAV Destinations, a Cardinals baseball game, and a visit to the St. Louis Zoo.
After we arrived and found the AirBnB, our group of thirteen walked to a restaurant called Soul Taco and then to an IKEA nearby. I had never been inside an IKEA before and expected to see mostly furniture. However, I was met with the most unusual trinkets and novelties, like cloudberry jam.
View of St. Louis from the coffee shop of IKEA
The next morning we went to PGAV Destinations, a leading design agency for attractions such as zoos, aquariums, museums, and theme parks all over the world. These coneflowers caught my attention as we were walking to the metro.
Echincea purpurea along the sidewalk near the Washington University School of Medicine.
According to their website, “PGAV Destinations is one of the world's largest independent design firms, serving as a leading master planner and designer of theme parks, zoos, museums, aquariums, heritage sites, destination retail, and brand-based experiences.” I loved meeting architects, designers, and illustrators who generously shared their stories and wisdom.
Our motley (design) crew outside PGAV Destinations
After the tour, we walked through the Serra Sculpture Park and had a picnic lunch. The lush greenery felt like an oasis in the middle of the bustling city.
The Serra Statute Garden in Downtown St. Louis
Our next stop was the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station. The aquarium was opened on Christmas Day in 2019, but the original train station (Union Station) dates back to 1894. We were treated to a tour of the aquarium by architect Justin Stichter, Vice President at PGAV. Justin showed us locomotive elements and water features that he had personally designed.
This ever-changing display was best observed by lying on one’s back.
We also took a gander around the Union Station Hotel and met a kind porter who told us more about the history of the place. The intricacies of the French-influenced interior of the Grand Hall reflected a subtle complementary color scheme.
The carefully-restored Grand Hall of the Union Station features a 65-foot barrel vaulted ceiling designed by Theodore C. Link.
Jackson bought us all tickets to a Cardinals game, so we put on our red apparel and headed to Busch Stadium. Along the way, we visited several gift shops to take note of type treatment and branding. The next morning we went to the St. Louis Art Museum.
I was thrilled to see Claude Monet’s work showcased along with the paintings of American artist Joan Mitchell. I have always felt a strong connection to Monet’s work and appreciate the way he celebrates the beauty of nature. “I must have flowers always, and always” has become a personal motto.
View from the gardens outside the St. Louis Art Museum
After the art museum, we made an excursion to the St. Louis Zoo and practiced drawing animals from life. Never had I felt more like an art student! There was also some ice cream involved…
Vegan pineapple raspberry ice cream :)
We continued exploring the city the rest of the day, and I went to Raising Cane’s for my very first time. I loved the disco balls and round lights!
Disco balls and round lights in Raising Cane’s
On the way back to Murfreesboro the next morning, we spent time reflecting on what we had noticed and learned from the trip. One of my biggest takeaways was that good design is all around us; the trick is noticing it.
Our first class assignment was making a cardboard birdhouse for a “bougie” St. Louis cardinal. Here’s how mine turned out:
St. Louis birdhouse (front)
Inspired by the Gateway Arch, I used a cardboard mailer to create my initial structure. I also salvaged colorful pictures from travel pamphlets to represent the artistic culture of the city.
On the back, I incorporated the royal blue and gold color scheme of the St. Louis Blues ice hockey team. I also added hand lettering to mimic the implied movement of the river water.
Archerfish on the side of my cardboard birdhouse
In case you were curious about the fish on either side of the arch, they are archerfish. We got to see them spitting their “prey” out of the air at the aquarium, so I thought they deserved a place on my birdhouse.
Our biggest project for this summer class was creating a brand identity and gift shop product line, complete with a logo, signage, fully rendered mockups, and a brand style guide. I chose to make a New York urban garden market called Calliope Garden Market. Here’s my work:
Developing this design system was one of my favorite parts of the project!
How the floor plan idea started in my sketchbook
That’s the end; thanks for reading! I had a lot of fun imagining this brand and bringing it to life. Through this project I learned more about package design, found so many mockups on Envato Elements, and experienced the vibrant culture of St. Louis with my friends. And who knows… maybe a store called Calliope Garden Market will pop up in New York one day.
