Thinc

Thinc is a diverse group of individuals from the fields of theater, exhibition design, architecture, education, film, graphics, and interactive media. We bring together the best aspects of our many disciplines to create exhibits that inspire, excite, and engage visitors of widely varied backgrounds and interests. The firm currently employs 25 full-time staff, in addition to a battery of talented consultants and freelance specialists.

Sherri Wasserman, Strategist

Sherri Wasserman joined Thinc in 2006 and assumed responsibility for identifying innovative and appropriate opportunities -- partnerships, resources, technologies -- that enrich each project and the firm's overall practice. Her multifaceted approach to realizing a project's potential stems from her experience as a producer, art director, archivist, multimedia artist, and researcher in the diverse fields of museums, photography, urban planning, film production, freelance design, and arts education. In addition, Sherri is an experienced archivist and database creator. Throughout her work, Sherri maintains an unwavering dedication to each project's potential as well as a keen sensitivity to the needs of individual team members.

Prior to joining Thinc, Sherri worked for famed photographer Bruce Weber as a curator, publisher, archivist, and registrar for dozens of exhibitions and publications.

Sherri holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in both history and art history/studio arts from Oberlin College, and a Masters degree in new media design from the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University. Her handmade books, photographs, and interactive installations have been shown in Chicago, New York, Portland, and Paris. She continues to paint, draw, photograph, and create books off-screen, as well as to further her digital story explorations and design for the web. She is a member of the College Art Association and the American Institute of Graphic Arts.

Steven Shaw, Design Director

Steven Shaw joined the firm in 2007 with over fifteen years of experience. His singular perspective on design is informed by his work in the fields of architecture, corporate events, and museums. Steven's expertise spans all phases of the design process, from concept development to preparing estimate packages and working with detailers, keeping projects on budget and true to their creative concept.

Steven's design management expertise stems in part from his years as a lead designer and creative director with Exhibitgroup/Giltspur and Elan Communications. In an earlier role at Thinc, he worked on the Ancient Americas exhibit at the Field Museum and the California Academy of Sciences' Steinhart Aquarium.

Steven earned a Bachelor of Architecture with University Honors from Carnegie Mellon University. Before concentrating on exhibition design, Steven worked as an architect in Cologne, Germany, where he focused on energy efficient residential and commercial projects. He speaks English and German.

Julie Chung, Senior Designer

Julie Chung joined Thinc in 2005 with extensive experience in children's museums, aquariums, and other cultural institutions. Her design capabilities span early content and sketch development through detailed construction drawings. Julie's experience also extends to exhibit fabrication including shop drawings, as well as on-site and shop floor quality control. Julie brings a decisive approach to project management whether overseeing schedules, managing subcontractors or maintaining client contact.

Julie's degree is a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from Carnegie Mellon University. After learning to design products for mass consumption, she worked as a furniture maker for Tadao Arimoto, a protégé of George Nakashima. She hand planed, wielded chisels, and learned traditional Japanese joinery to help create numerous one-off custom furniture pieces. She stands two inches shorter since her days as a woodworker, unloading truckloads of lumber by herself. She is fluent in Korean.

Rachel Schreck, Project Manager

Rachel Schreck is an accomplished and pragmatic project manager and museum educator. She joined the firm with particular expertise in managing the later phases of the design process, including detail design, shop fabrication, graphic production, and on-site installation. Rachel's prior background in museum education enhances her understanding of clients' needs and informs her ability to sense a project's potential, from object-based learning opportunities to optimal uses of available space. Rachel is a priorities-oriented manager, skilled at communicating goals and expectations clearly.

Before joining Thinc, Rachel worked as a project manager with Tangram International Exhibitions. Previously, Rachel was manager of secondary school programs at the New-York Historical Society, where she also served as interim director of education. Rachel first developed her eye for detail and scheduling skills in a trio of positions in different fields: as an administrative assistant at the investment banking firm Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, a federal education grant coordinator at Northwestern Connecticut Community College, and a production assistant in the publications department at the Museum of Modern Art.

Rachel holds a Masters of Science in Education from Hunter College and a Bachelor of Arts in History from New York University. She pursued deaf studies in between her degrees, and spent a year as a visiting interpreter at Gallaudet University. Rachel is fluent in English and American Sign Language.

Mike Shakespear, Senior Designer

Mike is an accomplished team leader with strong analytical, writing, and spatial conceptualization skills. He joined Thinc in 2000 with concentrated experience in aquarium architecture and general experience in exhibit design for natural history museums, nature centers, science museums and academic facilities. His capabilities range from master planning to detailed design and his physical designs are grounded in extensive expertise as a licensed architect with an engineering and construction background. He is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Before joining Thinc, he represented the city of Charleston, South Carolina as project manager for Rhodes/Dahl in the design and construction of the new 90,000 square-foot South Carolina Aquarium. Previously, he was an architect and principal at Shakespear Burns Architects, completing projects such as the Education Building at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Chula Vista Interpretive Center in California and the Tropical Discovery Center at the Denver Zoo. Mike also worked as an architectural and exhibit design consultant on a number of residential, commercial and artistic projects ranging from the Venice Biennale to an exhibition for Charles Eames.

Mike received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at MIT, studied German and philosophy of science at the University of Tubingen, Germany, and earned his Masters in Architecture at the University of California in Berkley. He is a licensed architect in California and a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Mike has traveled widely in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. He speaks English, Spanish and German.

Bill Camp, Senior Project Manager

Bill Camp has been a senior project manager with Thinc since 1998. Throughout his career, he has always enjoyed the challenge of helping projects flourish in diverse locations - whether it be a shop window, a 13-car train, the Eiffel Tower, or a traditional exhibition hall. He also has a thorough knowledge of projection and AV systems, as well as their integration into the design and fabrication process. His approach to management is informed by early days in the theater business and years of working with multilingual crews on commercial exhibits and sets throughout the United States, Europe and Japan.

Bill joined Thinc after a decade with Design Etcetera, Inc. managing domestic and international trade shows for a range of clients including Dansk, Hasbro, and MTV. He also worked as a fabricator with Bruce & Bruce Stage Scenery, building sets for movies and television shows, designing motion mechanics, and creating specialty riggings. Prior to that, he worked for years in theater, where the need for every element of design --fabrication, lighting, AV, operations, and security--must work together. In each of these settings, Bill has based his leadership on the firm conviction that projects thrive with clear communications, attention to detail, and a team approach to solving issues.

Bill has a degree is in Theater Production and Design from Oberlin College. He shares honors Thinc has received from the Industrial Designers Society of America (Silver Design Excellence Award for Brooklyn Botanical Garden, 2004) and Exhibitor Magazine (Gold Award for Seagate Exhibit, 1998).

Jorge Martinez, Senior Designer

Jorge Martinez joined Thinc in 2006. He has extensive experience working for clients ranging from corporations to children's museums. His work blends the best of commercial design--inviting spaces that evoke moods and settings at a glance--with an attention to content and a subtle wit that gives each exhibit a memorable twist.

Prior to joining Thinc, Jorge worked as Director of Design with New Jersey's Dottinger Design, creating trade show exhibits, point-of-purchase displays, and permanent retail environments. While working in the design center at Freeman, a trade show services firm in Chicago, his repertoire expanded to include corporate events and political venues such as the 2004 Republican National Convention. Jorge's museum work dates back to early days with the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, where he held responsibilities for exhibit and graphic design.

In addition to earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from the University of Michigan, Jorge's undergraduate years included extensive studies in aerospace engineering and archaeology. He is a professional member of the International Design Society of America and recently taught an environmental design workshop at Kean University in New Jersey. Jorge speaks Spanish and Portuguese.

Greg Blackburn, Senior Graphic Designer

Greg Blackburn is Senior Graphic Designer at Thinc. He joined the firm in 2008 with more than 15 years of experience in developing and implementing exhibition, interactive, and print graphics for museum and corporate projects. Greg's expertise in designing for both architectural and digital environments originates in his background in sculpture and interactive media.

Before joining Thinc, Greg was a graphic designer at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey. Previously, he designed screen-based graphics for the launch of Scholastic Red, and collaborated in the 3-D and 2-D design of exhibits at The Newark Museum.

Greg holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sculpture from the State University of New York/Empire State College and a Masters degree from the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University. He received Graphic Design USA magazine's 2006 American In-house Design Award for the Liberty Science Center's 2005 Gala invitation and event brochure.