ABOUT ME
MECHSE Mural Design
Timeframe: Jan 2025 - Apr 2025
Software Used: Adobe Illustrator, Procreate
Type: Illustration, Mural Design
I designed a mural for the MECHSE Alumni Board that visually represents the diverse paths students can take during their time in the MECHSE program. The concept focused on illustrating branching journeys, opportunities, and milestones in a way that felt inspiring and student-centered. I worked closely with the Director of Communications, Julia Park, to develop a design that aligned with the program’s values and existing branding, then created polished, production-ready decal artwork for installation. The final mural turns the space into a motivating visual narrative, celebrating the many directions students can grow, learn, and contribute during their academic journey.
Software Used: Adobe Illustrator, Procreate
Type: Illustration, Mural Design
I designed a mural for the MECHSE Alumni Board that visually represents the diverse paths students can take during their time in the MECHSE program. The concept focused on illustrating branching journeys, opportunities, and milestones in a way that felt inspiring and student-centered. I worked closely with the Director of Communications, Julia Park, to develop a design that aligned with the program’s values and existing branding, then created polished, production-ready decal artwork for installation. The final mural turns the space into a motivating visual narrative, celebrating the many directions students can grow, learn, and contribute during their academic journey.
Ideation
When the mural project was initially pitched, I was presented with this description:
“This space is dedicated by the MechSE Alumni Board for you to enjoy. The Alumni Board, composed of a diverse group of MechSE graduates, proudly supports the department, faculty, administration, and students. We are committed to helping the next generation of engineering innovators improve society for all humankind. Our goal is to help you succeed in your studies and future endeavors. We hope you carry fond memories of the positive interactions here, and remember: Together, we shape a brighter future in Mechanical Science and Engineering. I – L – L...”
From there, I began ideating on how I could connect the alumni and students while representing the body of MECHSE through design. Through research and gathering inspiration by visiting the campus engineering facilities, I was able to come up with a few concepts for the mural. Ultimately, I wanted to illustrate the different paths the alumni have taken to inspire future engineers and present the possibilities. The idea that best suited the concept was a line art approach to visually represent the pathways and how all fields connect to make up MECHSE.
“This space is dedicated by the MechSE Alumni Board for you to enjoy. The Alumni Board, composed of a diverse group of MechSE graduates, proudly supports the department, faculty, administration, and students. We are committed to helping the next generation of engineering innovators improve society for all humankind. Our goal is to help you succeed in your studies and future endeavors. We hope you carry fond memories of the positive interactions here, and remember: Together, we shape a brighter future in Mechanical Science and Engineering. I – L – L...”
From there, I began ideating on how I could connect the alumni and students while representing the body of MECHSE through design. Through research and gathering inspiration by visiting the campus engineering facilities, I was able to come up with a few concepts for the mural. Ultimately, I wanted to illustrate the different paths the alumni have taken to inspire future engineers and present the possibilities. The idea that best suited the concept was a line art approach to visually represent the pathways and how all fields connect to make up MECHSE.
Initial Sketches
Through feedback and continuous research, I was able to go through multiple stages of sketches. Additionally, I was given a list of keywords of the different fields representing MECHSE, including:
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Precision manufacturing
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Battery-based saltwater desalination
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Space-based manufacturing
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Clean/sustainable energy – from wind, solar, nuclear, and hydrogen sources
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Student car teams are a huge part of student life here in MechSE
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Human-centered design in engineering is a major piece of what our students learn as mechanical engineers
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Robotics
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Cancer research
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Aircraft/aerospace industry – examples:
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Electrified aircraft
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Adaptive control technology in airplanes, in which the technology takes over in emergency situations
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Machine learning
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Biomechanics and Bioengineering
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HVAC research
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Materials engineering
Revising Sketches
As I continued refining my sketches, the feedback I was given was to ensure that the viewers are able to understand the illustrations at first glance. Therefore, I redesigned certain elements by adding more detail, changing the perspective of some machines (to add more dimension and make it less flat), adjusting scale, and double-checking the accuracy of specific elements. One of the challenges of this project was the validity and accuracy of my design, as I was unfamiliar with engineering concepts; however, through helpful feedback from the director, I was able to make realistic illustrations that would resonate with alumni and students.
Final Design:
In Illustrator, I created a final vector illustration from the revised sketches. As a result, we ended up with a 200” wide x 127.5” tall wall decal along with an acrylic wordmark of “MECHSE”.