Introducing... the logo
We are thrilled to unveil the new logo for the Sarasota Children’s Museum, a result of our inspiring collaboration with the talented students from Ringling College of Art and Design’s INDEX Program, led by David Foote. This project brought together a dedicated group of students: Alice Yurkova, Autumn Taylor, Gabby Pierre, Irene Pae, Jessie Cross, Jocelyn Williams, Samantha Balikowa, and Valerie Miller. Each contributed their unique creativity and insight, playing a critical role in the wide-ranging redesign of our museum’s branding.
The semester-long project was an immersive dive into the potential of museum branding. The students were tasked not just with redesigning the logo but also with rethinking the museum’s product offerings, exhibit designs, and overall visitor experience. Their proposals included innovative concepts for interactive exhibits, online engagement strategies, and merchandise that could extend the museum’s reach and impact. These ideas were pivotal in shaping not just a logo but a comprehensive identity that reflects the museum’s mission and vision.
Central to the new design is a logo that encapsulates the essence of STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics. This concept was brilliantly refined by Bella Race, a junior in Graphic Design, who brought clarity and vibrancy to the final design. The logo features intuitive symbols representing each area of STEAM, unified in a circular motif that symbolizes endless discovery and learning.
The creative contributions from this collaboration have not only resulted in a dynamic new visual identity but have also laid the groundwork for the museum’s future directions in exhibits and public engagement. The diverse ideas presented by the students have opened up exciting possibilities for interactive and educational experiences that we are eager to explore further.
As we continue to develop these ideas, including the upcoming launch of our STEAM Machine mobile museum, we remain profoundly grateful to each of the students involved: Alice, Autumn, Gabby, Irene, Jessie, Jocelyn, Samantha, Valerie, and Bella. Their visionary work has prepared us to bring a richer, more engaging museum experience to the Sarasota community.
To all the students at Ringling College, your dedication and creativity have profoundly impacted the Sarasota Children’s Museum. We are excited to integrate your innovative ideas into our operations and can’t wait to see how your contributions will inspire our visitors. Thank you for helping us create a space where creativity, curiosity, and learning thrive. Join us as we continue to advance STEAM education and foster a community of young innovators in Sarasota.
Meet the Students
Bella Race
Meet Bella Race, a junior in Graphic Design at Ringling College, whose fresh perspective was pivotal in refining our new logo for the Sarasota Children’s Museum. Tasked with enhancing a preliminary design, Bella focused on ensuring the logo would resonate with its young audience. Her design cleverly integrates symbols representing the STEAM elements—science, technology, engineering, art, and math—into a cohesive and engaging circular logo that speaks directly to children’s curiosity and sense of wonder.
Bella envisions a museum exhibit that transcends traditional play: an imaginative structure where children can climb and explore within a thematic environment inspired by the STEAM elements. This idea builds on her cherished childhood memories of painting and creating freely, experiences that continue to influence her judgment-free approach to design and creativity.
Her work with the Sarasota Children’s Museum reflects a deep commitment to designing educational spaces that are both fun and enriching, making learning an exciting, interactive experience.
Samantha Balikowa
Meet Samantha Balikowa, a passionate advocate for childhood creativity from the Business of Art and Design program at Ringling College. Samantha’s own vibrant experiences as a child inspired her to design logos and merchandise for the Sarasota Children’s Museum that ignite the imaginations of young visitors. Her designs aim to draw children into a world of wonder and curiosity, mirroring the inspiration she found in her own childhood art-filled home.
Samantha dreams of creating an arts and crafts exhibit that allows children to freely express their creativity, reminiscent of the dedicated painting wall her parents provided, which became her canvas for boundless creativity. This profound personal connection to creative expression drives her commitment to fostering environments where children can explore, create, and dream freely. Through her work, Samantha continues to advocate for educational experiences that empower and inspire young minds to discover their artistic voices.
Jocelyn Williams
Jocelyn envisions an exhibit dedicated to fostering artistic creativity among children. She imagines a space with blank white walls and floors where children can freely doodle and paint, transforming the room with their vibrant expressions. This interactive environment would allow them to explore different artistic mediums and learn about famous artists, nurturing their creative talents.
Reflecting on her own childhood, Jocelyn fondly recalls spending time at her grandmother’s house assembling puzzles—an activity that taught her the value of patience and attention to detail. This early love for puzzles translated into a passion for math and later blossomed into a career in graphic design, where she appreciates how individual elements merge to form a complete, meaningful design. Jocelyn’s journey from playing with puzzles to mastering graphic design underscores her belief in the profound connections between past experiences and professional passion, driving her to create designs that resonate deeply with both children and adults.
Jessie Cross
Meet Jessie Cross, a vibrant force in Graphic Design at Ringling College. Jessie brought a fresh, dynamic approach to the Sarasota Children’s Museum’s website, drawing inspiration from the playful essence of construction paper with its colorful yet subdued palette. Her design strategy involved creating a multitude of abstract shapes and layered images that mimic the joy of crafting with paper, aiming to make the museum’s website bright, inviting, and accessible to all ages.
Jessie’s vision for the museum includes an astronomy exhibit, inspired by her childhood fascination with the stars. She imagines a space where children can learn about planets and constellations in an engaging, playful environment, blending education with the wonder of outer space.
Reflecting on her favorite childhood experiences, Jessie recalls frequent visits to a local children’s science museum in Boise, Idaho, where interactive displays like giant bubbles and a swinging pendulum captivated her imagination. These visits not only filled her with awe but also sparked a lifelong passion for learning and creativity. Today, Jessie channels that same sense of wonder and discovery into her work, striving to create designs that ignite curiosity and joy in young minds.
