Pearson Hall Collage

This project required us to create a collage inspired by one of Miami University's many Halls, with the intention of combining them all to create a "Collage City".

I chose to represent Pearson Hall, which is the center of both the Biology and Microbiology departments. We were asked to create a collage that could invite viewers into some of the story of the building and what the building's culture revolves around. What is the social life about? Are there any stories or achievements that stand out? How can I use imagery to create a collage of Pearson Hall that allows viewers to relate their own experience to the art?

First, I did research on Pearson, both through online sources and by wandering around the building and making observations of the day-to-day life that Pearson holds. I had some advantage with this, as I had already completed several study sketches for the entrance, learning about the building through preliminary research and observation. Both my notational sketches, as well as a page of social observations, greatly helped me to understand the building I was creating a collage for.

I chose to focus on the ambitions of the students, professors, and researchers that work in Pearson by collaging together the types of animals and environments that they may be interested in.

Below is my completed collage for Pearson Hall. By choosing to include animals, habitats, and examples from other researchers in my collage, I wanted to create something that inspires and connects with people from all backgrounds. The more we learn about the world we live in, the more we can appreciate its delicate balance and incredible beauty. Every part of nature—from the tiniest insect to the vast ocean—reminds us that it’s both our responsibility and our privilege to take care of this planet. I'm glad that Pearson Hall is able to be the center for this passion at Miami University.

This project was a great peak into the techniques that I'll use as an Interior Designer. A huge part of my future job will be to help clients design their own spaces, and arranging different materials, colors, and textures will be a key part to this communication process. I enjoyed selecting different parts of nature out of many magazines, and I really enjoyed matching animals to their habitats. I think that I did a good job with the flow of my collage, and I like how the eye naturally processes the groupings of color. Including the tiny, fun details was my favorite part because while it might take several moments to notice them individually, they still contribute to the overall visual spread. The line I drew between Pearson Hall and the final collage may be a bit abstract, but I think that I captured the meaning and purpose behind the building well. I enjoyed this, even if I know that in the future the selection process for colors and materials will need lots more thought behind it, both for the individual materials and how they work together. However, I'm happy with the way this particular project came together, and I anticipate learning more about the meaning and implications of my decisions in the future.

Oct 26, 2025

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