The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a place that transcends the boundaries of race and culture that divide us, offering a powerful lens into a story that ultimately connects and unites us all.
KTD Creative designed the brochure for “Through the African American Lens: Selections from the Permanent Collection,” providing an introduction to the museum and a window into the dynamic history of Americans of African descent. The exhibition presents personal and intimate stories of families, organizations, and individuals spanning from the Revolutionary era to the present, while offering audiences a glimpse into the extraordinary breadth of the museum’s permanent collection.
The large-format brochure was designed as an immersive editorial experience, featuring a complex three-page timeline and an intricate die-cut on the front cover that adds dimensionality and visual intrigue to the piece.
This project is part of KTD Creative’s broader experience working with Smithsonian museums and other leading cultural institutions throughout Washington, D.C. We have collaborated with multiple Smithsonian museums, as well as organizations including the National Building Museum, developing brochures, invitations, publications, promotional materials, and other communications that help these institutions tell important stories and connect with their audiences.
Our work with museums is highly collaborative. We work closely with curators, communications teams, development staff, educators, and other stakeholders to understand the institution, the exhibition or program, the audience, and the story being told. We bring together strategy, writing, editing, visual storytelling, typography, design, and production expertise to create communications that are both beautiful and purposeful.
We understand that museum communications require a particular sensitivity to history, scholarship, collections, and institutional voice. Our role is to listen carefully, collaborate throughout the creative process, and translate complex and meaningful content into compelling visual experiences—while respecting the integrity of the institution and the stories it has been entrusted to tell.
For KTD Creative, these partnerships are especially rewarding because they allow our team to combine our design expertise with a deep appreciation for culture, history, education, and storytelling, helping some of Washington’s most important museums engage, inform, and inspire their audiences.