Dan Goods @ JPL

Dan Goods is a "Visual Strategist" at JPL, facilitating sensory experiences of science through mediums of graphic design, sculpture, video, and various installation projects. 

As a graphic designer/artist also interested in science, I was really interested to hear about Dan's experience. It was refreshing to see the possibilities of creating multidisciplinary artwork that inspires as well as educates. Dan talked about "sneaking up on learning", by developing visually stimulating installations that give viewers a "moment of awe", encouraging them to learn more about scientific subjects.

By playing to our natural human interest in beauty & mystery, and an innate curiosity for the world (& universe) around us, Dan is able to attract viewers to experience science in a way that they wouldn't be able to without an artist's interpretation. Not only does his work facilitate uncommon experiences, but it communicates information in an accessible way. 


Some examples of his work here:

beneath the surface: jupiter, lightning, and invisible lights

http://directedplay.com/aerogel.html

"View looking into the magnifying glass showing the grain. It has a hole drilled into it. All the planets found outside our solar system could fit within this area of our galaxy."

http://directedplay.com/bigplayground.html