Manatee Anatomy Exhibit

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is a public aquarium and marine science research center. During the course of my internship at Mote I was given the opportunity to work on an independent project, for which I created a design for an interactive exhibit geared towards children visiting the mammal center.

I spent time in the mammal center at Mote sketching Buffet (the resident manatee) and envisioning where a new interactive exhibit could fit in. Where I decided to place my exhibit was in an area already designed for children to play in, conveniently right beside the manatee habitat. With my background in medical illustration I knew that I wanted to make my exhibit about manatee anatomy specifically.

Illustrating the manatee, the manatee skeleton, and the digestive system were just a small part of the things I needed to create and consider to design the interactive exhibit. I first had to decide how I wanted it to be constructed and with what materials. To start I created a ¼ size version out of cardboard.

I considered the environment, the mammal center is partly outside in hot, rainy and humid Sarasota FL, accessibility, and how I imagined children interacting with it. With these things in mind I chose materials that could withstand the weather and children's sticky hands. I decided on high pressure laminate for a majority of the structure, poly carbonate uv and scratch resistant sheets for the sliding pieces, and vinyl for the images on the polycarbonate.

In addition to the construction plans and illustrations I researched and then wrote the content for the exhibit. Highlighting the cool and exciting parts of manatee anatomy such as their 150 ft long intestines!