Indiana State Museum
Exhibit: Good Night Forest
with artist Penelope Dullaghan
The Challenge
To create a world of characters and environments that immersed guests in a charming yet realistic representation of nocturnal life in Indiana for an exhibit called Good Night Forest.
The Solution
Commission illustrator Penelope Dullaghan to bring Good Night Forest to life.
The Result
Penelope’s illustrations brought an enchanting vibrancy to the exhibit, transforming the museum into a whimsical nightscape. Her intricate and charming illustrations captivated visitors, bringing to life wise owls, mischievous raccoons, and serene moonlit landscapes. Balancing accuracy with artistic flair, Penelope's work inspired a deeper appreciation for the nocturnal world, turning the exhibit into a visually stunning and emotionally engaging experience that educated and delighted guests of all ages.
Interview with museum art director Jordan Staats
Why did you choose to collaborate with Penelope Dullaghan on this particular project?
The goal for the project meant finding an illustrator able to provide a unique and charismatic style, but also staying to true to the anatomy of the animals and vegetation. It was not difficult after considering Penelope’s work to see that she was able to strike this balance. Her illustration style depicted all the content we needed in a way that could create an immersive experience, but also did so with stunning skill and detail. After initial contact, Penelope’s warmth and positivity further affirmed our interest in working with her.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while working on the project?
As is often the case in experience design, there are multiple stages of planning, and those plans can often be adjusted or revised on the fly without stunting the execution. However, the challenge of working with an illustrator is trying to predict and imagine all the assets that will be needed before actually combing and producing the assets.
One of the larger challenges we faced was planning the early stages of the project without full cognition of the end result. We did not have a full rendering of the experience when we sent Penelope the list of deliverables, so we had to work hard to establish the environment we were creating as Penelope was finishing the illustrations.
This still turned out to be successful, but there were some bumps along the way including adding/revising requests or manipulating finished illustrations to better fit the space. In retrospect, we would have adjusted some of the initial requests to more easily fit the ultimate result, but hindsight is always 20/20. Penelope handled any redirection with grace, flexibility, and positivity which made this process much easier.
And, lastly, what did the Penelope bring to the project?
Penelope provided a steadfastness that made her invaluable to this project. Not only was she constantly prepared, but she had impressive discipline in her punctuality, delivering assets, and in constant communication. She would not shy away from following up if she had not heard from me, which kept the workflow stable even when I was less responsive or timely. Her constant communication which was extremely important to the advancement of the process.
Not only is Penelope efficient, but her zeal and eagerness are contagious. I have left every interaction I’ve had with her (whether digitally or in-person) with admiration and delight, even when I was in the most stressful times in the project. She embodies a sense of serenity and mindfulness that radiates a confidence to those around her. Not to mention that she is immensely talented illustrator, and her ability to envision and produce a consistent and homogenous identity for a project is notable.
Indiana State Museum Art Director, Jordan Staats had this to say about the experience of working with Penelope.
I left every interaction I had with Penelope (whether digitally or in-person) with admiration and delight, even when I was in the most stressful times in the project. She embodies a sense of serenity and mindfulness that radiates a confidence to those around her.
Behind the scenes
Join Penelope Dullaghan as she shares a behind the scenes peek at the Indiana State Museum exhibit — Good Night Forest!
