ROLE
Visual Development / Illustration / Animation
TOOLS
Blender, Procreate, After Effects
I had the privilege of developing the illustration and animation for the Ray Bradbury exhibition at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie, an immersive projection experience celebrating the life, imagination, and literary legacy of one of America’s most influential storytellers. The exhibition is housed in the very room where the legendary author first discovered the magic of books.
Created in collaboration with Luci Creative, Angle Park and the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie, the installation blends 2D and 3D animation, painterly textures, kinetic typography, and cinematic transitions into a continuously evolving visual narrative. Designed as both an ambient experience and a guided story, the projection transforms the museum walls into a living world where Bradbury’s childhood memories gradually dissolve into the landscapes, characters, and ideas that inspired his most iconic works.
CHARACTER DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
The goal was to make Ray Bradbury and the supporting characters feel simple, approachable, and charming. I began with pencil line art, then layered in colorful brush textures to add warmth and visual movement. The palette was guided by Waukegan History Museum's brand colors, helping the artwork feel connected to its institution.
SKETCHING THE LANDMARKS
Waukegan played an important role in shaping Bradbury’s imagination, so I wanted the city itself to become part of the visual story. Historic landmarks, coastal attractions, and cultural institutions were reinterpreted through pencil linework, hand-drawn textures, forced perspective, and the museum’s vibrant color palette.
AMBIENT + NARRATIVE
The exhibition was designed around two complementary experiences. Ambient mode creates an evolving visual atmosphere visitors can enter at any point, while the narrative experience guides audiences through Bradbury’s life with more deliberate storytelling, pacing, and transitions. Both share the same visual language while serving different roles within the exhibit.
BUILDING THE STORY
I began with rough sketches to pitch the concept, then refined the look and design into the final frames. From there, I expanded the visual style in Blender using Grease Pencil tools, texture development, environment builds, and lighting.
- Ray Bradbury
INSIDE THE EXHIBIT
The animation was designed as a natural extension of the exhibit, using the museum interior as a canvas for Ray Bradbury’s imagination. Waukegan landmarks, childhood memories, and literary motifs gradually transform into whimsical environments inspired by his stories, blending animation with the physical space to create an immersive world that unfolds around the visitor.
