How Things Work science and engineering mural at Iridescent's STEM education studio, Los Angeles

How Things Work Mural

The mural is a collage of elements from the science and engineering courses taught by the children’s educational non-profit Iridescent in this space.
The lower area depicts rotation about an axis – an arm, legs, a wind turbine blade, a large turbine, an airplane propeller, a bicycle chain, a truss, a gear, and a saw blade – with a motor in the center. The images around belong to other topics being taught.
The big idea was to suggest mechanical or formal relationships between things which might otherwise seem unrelated, such as an arm and a turbine, or a bird and a stingray, to inspire curiosity and a desire to learn more.

Mural

Iridescent-ONR STEM Design Studio, Downtown LA, CA

DIMENSIONS

17′ tall x 20′ wide

For

Iridescent
things that spin about an axis: airplane propeller, wind turbine blade, truss, jet turbine, arm, bicycle chain, legs, gear, saw blade turning about a BLDC motor in science and engineering mural
The mural is a collage of elements from the science and engineering courses taught by the children’s educational non-profit Iridescent in this space.
bike gear and saw blade detail in science and engineering mural
How Things Work science and engineering mural at the Iridescent STEM education studio, Los Angeles
The mural is designed for this particular space and the client’s desire to maintain a neutral and calm interior, opening up and becoming more colorful as it moves toward the outside wall, keeping many elements just as thin lines. The colored areas were painted in a semi-gloss so that they would stand out from the flat white background in a subtle way.
The lower area depicts rotation about an axis – an arm, legs, a wind turbine blade, a large turbine, an airplane propeller, a bicycle chain, a truss, a gear, and a saw blade – with a motor in the center. The images around belong to other topics being taught.
bird, paper plane, fighter jet, and stingray evolution/comparison in science and engineering mural
ear, spine, and blade detail in science and engineering mural
While most of the images and symbols are new, a few are ones Ioana already developed for other Iridescent projects, such as the children’s paper airplanes, the copper atom, and the slogan. To this degree the mural helps to reinforce Iridescent’s brand.
The big idea was to suggest mechanical or formal relationships between things which might otherwise seem unrelated, such as an arm and a turbine, or a bird and a stingray, to inspire curiosity and a desire to learn more.
hand and arm detail detail, and rollercoaster in science and engineering mural
the Yakaboo cruising canoe on a wave in science and engineering mural
The mural is designed for this particular space and the client’s desire to maintain a neutral and calm interior, opening up and becoming more colorful as it moves toward the outside wall, keeping many elements just as thin lines. The colored areas were painted in a semi-gloss so that they would stand out from the flat white background in a subtle way.
things that spin about an axis: airplane propeller, wind turbine blade, truss, jet turbine, arm, bicycle chain, legs, gear, saw blade turning about a BLDC motor in science and engineering mural
acrobat and the eye in science and engineering mural
rollercoaster in science and engineering mural
When the organization was forced to move out of the space (condo conversion), the mural was tragically cut up in an effort to save parts of it.
While most of the images and symbols are new, a few are ones Ioana already developed for other Iridescent projects, such as the children’s paper airplanes, the copper atom, and the slogan. To this degree the mural helps to reinforce Iridescent’s brand.
bird and paper plane comparison, and wave in science and engineering mural
cutting down the science and engineering mural at Iridescent's STEM education studio, Los Angeles
one leg cut out of the science and engineering mural at Iridescent's STEM education studio, Los Angeles
When the organization was forced to move out of the space (condo conversion), the mural was tragically cut up in an effort to save parts of it.

Work/Credits

Design & Painting: Ioana Urma. Photos: Benny Chan (flat elevation, photos #1, #4, #5, #9), Ioana Urma (the rest). Mural Animation Video: Ioana Urma (illustration, based on finished mural), Cristiano Meira (animation).