Take the creative and collaborative minds of students studying design and entomology at the University of California, Davis.

Add an innovative project involving insects.

Add three talented instructors: Diane Ullman, professor of entomology, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and lecturers Gale Okumura and Morissa Rubin of the UC Davis Department of Design 

Result: an art exhibition, “The World of Insects: Paper, Tile, Branding and Packaging.” to take place from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, June 6 in the Environmental Horticulture courtyard, located near Walter A. Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center on Alumni Drive. The event is free and open to the public.

Background: Students in Design 116 and Entomology 001 "collaborated in discussing entomological science and design principles,” said Ullman, who is director of the Career Discovery Group Program, part of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. "Entomology students did case study research on the assigned insect, met with their design partners and then created designs to communicate a concept or concepts about their insect. They used the silk screening process to print their designs and create multiples of each on paper, as well as on ceramic tile. With their paper projects they then created a final project. These projects, their fired tiles and their case studies will be on display."

Ullman described it as “a very interesting and profitable collaboration that taught the students to think outside the box, collaborate across disciplines and communicate science visually.”

The students will display their branding and packaging of their product for edible insects, said Okumura. "The design students were to create a pattern from the assigned insect, as well as design a logo for their branding, which was then applied to their packaging and business system," she said. "The packaging had be appealing to the consumer and in some sense, change behavior of the audience to buy edible insects by having appealing graphics."

Rubin said the silkscreen prints "focus on illustrations of the insect and its key features (entomology students) or graphic patterns derived from significant markings or features of the insect. Additionally design students have developed an insect related product and its entire graphic identity."

Bottom line: Prepare to enter an amazing world you may not have seen before--the incredible world of insects, coupled with innovative marketing and designs.

And maybe, just maybe, you'll add crickets to your diet?

If you haven't already?