Omaha Transition Program

Environmental

The Omaha Public Schools Transition Program is a specialized learning environment dedicated to teaching life skills to students between the ages of 18-21 who live with learning and cognitive disabilities. As a historically underserved student demographic, it was the goal of the design to imbue as much life, value, and respect as possible into their new space. Overlooking the shared common space, the 90' mural speaks constant encouragement over the students through a rolling series of graphic statements rendered in bright colors and styling inspired by youth culture, street art, and historical design movements. The mural interacts with the space, aligning with training rooms, activity spaces, and entry sight lines to create a vibrant work of art that perfectly embodies the goals of the program—to build up respectful, knowledgable, and capable adults.

Reimagining the traditional alphabet primer, the art is organized around three important concepts — unity and diversity, respect for oneself and for others, and ability despite disability — each signaled by a respective letter.
Photography by Dana Damewood