“Unpacking Pratt” is a visual statement on the multicultural and international makeup of the Pratt student body. Overall, the design is intended to represent an oversized suitcase or trunk to represent the various places students may be submitting products from and/ or leaving to visit campus. When placed on Myrtle Ave, “Unpacking Pratt” will welcome students and the general public alike to explore the various cultures and backgrounds represented by the featured products.
The design features many functional amenities that will allow for smooth daily function for the store. Starting from the left, a foldable bench can be extended from a swiveling table to create a checkout area for customers and a seating area for staff. A public art board is attached to this table along with papers and writing utensils to encourage any and all participants to leave a piece of artwork behind for another patron to take. While the overall design of the store conceptually symbolizes the interconnected diversity of Pratt, this shared artistic space physically allows participants to share a piece of their home or their culture with a stranger. Past the checkout area, “Unpacking Pratt’’ features a rack for textile and jewelry products as well as a variety of hinging shelves for all other mediums. A hanging bar for shirts will be installed in front of a circular mirror for patrons to see the products next to themselves. This mirror will also bring participants into the overall experience and invite them to consider their own roots.
This installation was designed for the Pratt Myrtle Expanded Exhibition to be displayed in Spring 2022.