A collage showcasing diverse artworks, artifacts, and exhibits related to Carnegie Museums including sculptures, paintings, and historical items. — Image courtesy of Carnegie Museums

Carnegie Museums: Digital Accessibility & UX/UI Design

Carnegie Museums
Role: Digital Technology Intern
Focus: UX Design · Accessibility · Front-End Development · Visual Design · Institutional Storytelling

Overview

As a Digital Technology Intern with the Infrastructure Team at Carnegie Museums, I focused on UX and accessibility for the museums’ open-source digital accessibility guide. I contributed to developing a resource to support inclusive design practices across all four Carnegie Museums (Art, Natural History, Science Center, and The Warhol). My role included front-end development, ADA remediation, staff training, and visual storytelling to improve the usability, accessibility, and user experience of the guide.

Contributions

UX & Front-End Development

Assisted with redesign and implementation of layout components for better accessibility and usability.
Enhanced semantic HTML, visual hierarchy, and WCAG-compliant design practices.
Collaborated with team members to ensure the guide was user-friendly across all devices and platforms.

ADA Remediation & Staff Support

Remediated internal web pages and PDFs to meet WCAG 2.2 compliance standards.
Provided 1:1 training for staff on accessible web and document practices.
Developed documentation to standardize digital accessibility efforts across the museums.

Introductory Animation: “One Mission, Four Museums”

Designed and animated an introductory video for the accessibility guide launch.
Featured each museum individually, then unified through animation to reflect a shared accessibility mission.
Tools: Adobe Illustrator for vectors, After Effects for animation production.

Featured Project: “One Mission, Four Museums” Animation

Collage of starry skies, exhibitions, and sleek installations at the Carnegie Museums. — Key assets for the animation piece

For the launch of the Digital Accessibility Guide v2, I created an animation that visually represents all four Carnegie Museums working together toward a shared mission of digital inclusion.

Concept:
The animation starts by showcasing each museum’s identity separately before blending into a cohesive sequence representing unity and collective values.

Creative Process:

Visual Development: Curated and designed visual elements from each museum’s exhibits and branding.
Animation: Animated transitions in After Effects for a smooth and dynamic experience.
Outcome: The animation served as a key visual storytelling element during the guide’s relaunch.

Animation: One Mission, Four Museums

Reflection

This internship allowed me to apply my skills in UX design, front-end development, and motion graphics to create impactful, inclusive digital experiences. I gained valuable experience working in a cross-disciplinary environment, blending creativity, accessibility, and strategic design to advance institutional goals.

The “One Mission, Four Museums” animation reinforced the museums’ collaborative spirit and commitment to accessibility, while expanding my motion storytelling and educational design skills.