W.A. Fountain
Artifact display and experiential graphics design development under Cooper Carry design firm for the historical Atlanta elementary school, W.A. Fountain.
My main goal was to honor the history of the school while celebrating past and present student bodies through engaging, multigenerational experiences.
*Experiential Graphics*Spatial DesignExperiential Graphic Design Co-op
Summer 2025Co-op Design Work
Process
001
Preliminary + Historical Context
W.A. Fountain High School was founded in 1953 for the education of children of color by the Clayton County School Board as an alternative to the impending mandate to desegregate southern schools. Construction represented the county’s effort to maintain a “separate but equal” educational system and retain two distinct districts. The school served first through twelfth grade and had a rich and vibrant student culture.
In 1964, the integration of schools began with Clayton County failing to make adequate progress resulting in the Supreme Court case 1971 the U.S. v. Bd. of Education of Clayton County. The result was the school being converted to a junior high with a majority white student body, where the history of the school was quickly forgotten. Fountain was established as an elementary in 1989 and still serves as one today with an active and prideful alumni community working to keep the history of the school alive.
The school is receiving a new facility with development led by Cooper Carry design firm. This project was done in collaboration with Cooper Carry’s Interior Design team as well as K-12 Architecture.
Locations
*Media Center*Collaboration Zones*Gym Historical Display*Music HallwayScope of Work
*Artifact display*Experiential graphics
002
Concept Design
Exploration of directions to incorporate historical context while taking building design and viewer age group into account. Two main concepts were primarily developed and ultimately combined.
Playful
Use of color and shape to make the space engaging to a younger demographic. Visual integration through colorful shapes, transparent colored vinyl application, and dynamic figures that invite movement.
Heritage
Utilize provided historical content to create mixed-media style graphics and displays. Visual integration through combined blocks of color with photographs and vintage school ephemera.
003
Initial Sketches
004
Sketch Iteration
005
Digital Iteration
006
Final Sketches
007
Final Concepts
