Cory Kirsininkas

Visual Communications

It is estimated that every year in the United States, over 600,000 individuals go missing. Fortunately, it is most often that missing children and adults are found quickly, alive, and well. However, tens of thousands of individuals remain missing for more than one year – and the media plays a vital role in the awareness of missing people. My efforts to create an exhibit geared towards promoting community involvement found myself educating people on the matter of missing people of color within the Chicagoland area. Visitors to this exhibit would be able to learn of the theories and phenomenons at play, get involved with local community organizations within the neighborhood, and learn of the missing people within the area.

The Introduction

These panels act as the introduction to both the subject and the exhibit, so they had to be communicative of the issues at hand. Larger type is used to represent the importance of the subject material.

Missing White Woman Syndrome, 36'' x 24''

The Issues

These information panels inform continue to act as a representative barrier to understanding who these people are. I supplement the information with pictograms and graphs to create visual cohesiveness with the issues being talked about.

The Theories and Indicators, 96'' x 96'' (8' x 8')

The Issues and Misconceptions, 96'' x 96'' (8' x 8')

The Missing Persons

These panels feature the sixteen individuals who have received little to no media coverage on their case. The panels are sized to be reminiscent of a missing persons poster, and provide information to help in understanding the circumstances in their case.

The Change

This section seeks to provide hope to the visitors attending by informing them on ways that they can get involved in their communities.

The Exhibit

While designing this exhibit, I had to keep in mind that the space had to be ADA accessible, which is a three-foot buffer around all items. Below you can find a collection of images taken of the 3D print made of the exhibit, along with the panels placed in the area it would be found.

The Website

This website had to considerate of the in-person aspects of the exhibit, meaning they had to find out how get involved, and be able to donate. The design was kept simple, and got straight to the point. Images were muted to keep with the serious tone of the subject material.

Artist’s Bio

Cory Kirsininkas is an up and coming designer from St. Charles, Illinois. She first attended Elgin Community College where she received a Bachelor of Arts. During her time at both NIU and ECC, she has volunteered and worked at her local museum by making a variety of marketing and event materials, and it is here that they fell in love with exhibit work. She currently works as the Arts Administration Intern at Side Street Studio Arts in Elgin, where she aids in marketing and exhibition efforts. Cory hopes to make a career out of working within the nonprofit field, as she loves the experience that such organizations can provide for communities.