Reflections is a garden installation designed to invite visitors to pause, connect, and reflect with nature.

Nature grounds us, offering relief from the pressures of daily life, and horticulture makes this connection accessible. At the Sherman Library & Gardens in Newport Beach, CA, visitors come seeking calm but often overlook the deeper relationship they share with the landscape around them.

As modern life becomes more tech-oriented and indoors, that relationship is more important than ever. Sherman Library & Gardens (SLG) asked for an installation that conveys the importance of the Human-Nature Connection and brings awareness to visitors. Reflections was designed to do just this.

Role
Environmental Graphic Designer

Location
Sherman Library & Gardens, Newport Beach, CA

Deliverables
Garden Installation

Year
2025

SLG Conservatory

Concept Ideation

PHASE 1

Research

The Human-Nature Connection is the deeply rooted bond between humans and the wise nature we are surrounded by. Through thorough research and personal experience in nature, I found these three ideas to be my key concepts.

Mind Maps

Key Concept

Installation Ideation

Reflective surfaces felt like the best material to use for this installation. Mirrors allow visitors to see themselves, offering interaction, and see and appreciate the environment their surrounded by.

Installations expressing we are nature, comfortable in it, and therefore comfortable within ourselves—dependent upon reflective surfaces bouncing off one another and three separate installations.

PHASE 2

Iteration 1

Iteration 2

Addition of mirrored pylons for an explanation of each installation, providing visitors with more context about reflection in nature. Simplification of mirror reflections.

One installation featuring more organic shaped mirrors to integrate with environment. Mirrors reflect both visitors and plant life. Simplification of overall installation while still conveying the same message.