Living the Story: A Glimpse into the Rhythm of Maasai Life

It began with three huts and a vision.

The Gilcrease Museum set the stage—a family hut, an elder’s hut, and an unfinished structure revealing the artistry of traditional Maasai building. But it was more than architecture. It was a living story waiting to be told.

As an intern turned exhibit designer, I stepped into that story—not just to curate, but to connect. My role was to shape how visitors experienced the village: how they read the signs, felt the rhythm, and understood the lives behind the walls.

I crafted signage that spoke with clarity and warmth, guiding guests through the exhibit’s narrative. I wrote press releases—both digital and print—that invited the public to step into a world both distant and deeply human. And I designed banners and billboards that didn’t just advertise, but evoked—each one a visual echo of the Maasai spirit.

This wasn’t just a design project. It was a dance between culture and communication, tradition and technology. It taught me how storytelling lives in every detail—from the placement of a sign to the tone of a headline.

And it reminded me that when we design with empathy, we don’t just inform. We invite people to feel, to listen, and to remember.

Published: Tulsa World

If you would like to see other exhibits I designed, you can see them here.