Isamu Noguchi: “I am not a designer”

2026

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Peabody Essex Museum Exhibition Design

Exhibition Design and Production Intern working alongside Danielle Covatta Riva, Daniel Oleksy, and Dan Wallis.

Skills:

Vectorworks
Rigging
Rendering
Woodworking
Teamwork
Project management
Installation

While working at the Peabody Essex Museum, I worked on the Isamu Noguchi exhibit, “I am not a designer.”

This project was my first foray into exhibit design, and it showed me how I can use my digital and physical design skills to create incredible experiences.

My work was split into exhibition design, which was mainly digital, and production, which was physical work.

Working with the exhibition design team had me sourcing materials, purchasing, matching colors, creating plans, elevations, and renderings.

One project spanned digital and physical. I was assigned to source, plan, and rig the Akari lanterns for the entryway. I sketched how I wanted the Akari to look together and drew inspiration from the Noguchi catalog. I learned to use Vectorworks to digitally mock up what the entryway would look like.

Another project had me source Toobers and Zotts, an out-of-production foam toy line, to add an interactive piece to the exhibit. These toys held a visual similarity to the playgrounds that Noguchi designed; this brought visitors closer to his work.

After that, I moved on to helping install the exhibit. Based on my detailed plans and elevations, I marked where the Akari in the exhibit would go with a laser pointer, a ladder, and tape. For the largest ceiling Akari piece, I helped rig its support system.

Photo by Kim Adresano/PEM

Photo by Kim Adresano/PEM

Photo by Kim Adresano/PEM

Photo courtesy of Dan Oleksy

Toobers and Zotts Interactive

Photo courtesy of Dan Oleksy

Photo courtesy of Dan Oleksy

Shoji screens placed

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