Thai El Monte Garment Workers: The Return of Slavery and Trafficking in the Modern Era
Thai El Monte Garment Workers: The Return of Slavery and Trafficking in the Modern Era exhibition was organized to attract community-based organizations, immigrants, human trafficking survivors, individuals interested in social justice issues, and members of the Thai community, thus bringing exposure to the social issues faced by the Thai community.
The Challenge
We had the following two design challenges: first, we needed to include text-heavy content in three languages on the section panels; second, we had to use the low-resolution images from the private collections as the main images in the exhibition space. To accommodate all the content, we developed modular panel systems to vary the panel sizes and at the same time keep the exhibition organized and information easy to read. We colorized photography and used the halftone effect to help elevate the look of the images in the graphic presentation. We thus created an engaging space that used a lot of rich colors. Our use of bright colors helped visitors deal better with emotionally disturbing exhibition content.
Project Vision
Exhibition was organized to attract community-based organizations, immigrants, human trafficking survivors, individuals interested in social justice issues, and members of the Thai community, thus bringing exposure to the social issues faced by the Thai community. By selecting the color palette that strongly connects exhibition content with the Thai heritage, we wanted to bring the elements of the Thai culture into the exhibition. We used the modern color palette based on the colors incorporated into the classic Thai fabrics and designs.
East exhibition wall with the epilogue
Curtis McElhinney
East exhibition wall with the interactive wall
Curtis McElhinney
Central gallery space with the survivors hero images
Curtis McElhinney
Design + Execution
Our graphic design solutions used visual references and graphic elements, regularly
used in the garment industry (eg., patterns, needles, and threads). The inspiration for
the title wall came from the Los Angeles map representing the origin of the El Monte garment workers case. When broken apart, it shows areas outside of Los Angeles (almost like continents) where trafficking is also happening–outside the boundaries
of LA and worldwide.
West exhibition wall—Beginning of the story of the El Monte garment workers
The El Monte garment workers case timeline
East gallery wall detail
East gallery wall detail
Project Details
Design Team
Vesna Petrovic, Paula DiMarco, (professor, creative direction, project management) Russell Alarcon, Sebastian Alvarez, William Blanco, Amra Brucelas, Ana Cabrera, Joseph Choe, Michaela Culbreth, Andrea Escobar, Helena Feumba, Kristina Gabrielyan, Hazel Giron, Yessenia Lopez, Emma Macias, Angelica Martinez, Samantha Martinez, Luiza Melikyan, Maria Morales, Juliana Philpott, Kylee Rust, Victoria Villarreal, Samuel Yean, Blanca Ramos (project management), Minji Park, Mia Smiljanich (lead designer)
Photo Credits
Curtis McElhinney, Curtisvision
Open Date
June 2021