Empowering Women

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Temporary exhibition

 

Role: Exhibit graphic design and production

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Exhibit Photography: Jessica Sigurdson, CMHR

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Empowering Women: Artisan Cooperatives that Transform Communities uses colourful folk art objects, images and video to make stories come alive from 11 countries. The exhibition explores the work of women in Bolivia, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Lao PDR, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, South Africa and Swaziland. All strive for a better standard of living, but each co‐op also has its own story. Some focus on preserving cultural heritage, others on creating a safe haven from violence, others on building independence and respect.

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Empowering Women was organized by the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico and is circulated through GuestCurator Traveling Exhibitions. Enhanced by CMHR curatorial, design and exhibition staff through inclusive design and Weaving a Better Future, CMHR's virtual reality experience that transports visitors to Guatemala, where Indigenous Maya women use weaving cooperatives to improve their lives and heal after years of war and genocide.

 

For this exhibition celebrating women’s rights, my goal was to create an empowering spatial narrative that honored the struggles and triumphs of diverse women activists. The project required sensitivity in representing different cultural contexts respectfully. By integrating authentic artifacts, large-scale murals, and bold environmental graphics, visitors could emotionally connect with powerful personal stories. Accessibility and representation guided every design decision, leading to inclusive typography, braille integration, and intuitive wayfinding. The result was a visually impactful, deeply resonant exhibition experience that inspired visitors to reflect on their own roles in supporting women's rights globally. 

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