Lewis Latimer House
Challenge:
Take the brand beyond the physical house to spread Lewis Latimer's story and give opportunities to explore STEAM education, while aligning it to the new exhibition renovations.
Outcome:
Transformed the House into an open space to empower and fuel tomorrow’s problem solvers through updated visual and verbal identity, new positioning, and new programming.
Background
Over 100 years ago, Lewis Latimer and his family inhabited this house in Flushing, Queens. The culturally diverse city holds a plethora of communities, and the house museum sought to connect with them in a way beyond sharing Lewis Latimer’s incredible accomplishments. While he may be best known for some of his patents, Latimer’s legacy is far greater.
The historic home has been remodeled and updated to give the museum more space to offer STEAM education opportunities, new exhibitions, and public programming. Much of the space proudly displays his patent work, but Latimer has much more to share.
Findings
Lewis Latimer was the son of escaped slaves, whose father relied on the community to protect him. At only 16 years old, he took it upon himself to join in the Civil War, lying about his age in order to get drafted.
He was committed to improving the world around him for the betterment of society, often entering environments where he was the only black person there.
Latimer was a kaleidoscopic person, with the curiosity to ask questions and the courage to seek answers.
