A Spike Lee Joint
Experimental Films that Started a New Wave of Black Cinema
A collection of zines that take a closer look at films directed, produced, and screenwritten by Spike Lee. Each piece is a visual essay of my thoughts on the selected films and their underlying meanings from my perspective
Objective
Solution
Create a set of deliverables that experiment with package design that is cohesive in branding.
The topic must reflect a series that can be continued and expanded.
A packaged zine series that explores films Spike Lee has created & directed throughout his career.
Each zine think piece includes a general summary of the film, the film techniques used by Lee, and discusses my interpretation of the film's message, along with my overall thoughts. This series is meant to spark conversation with those who are interested in film approaches within the Black community and become more exposed to black cinema/ filmmaking.
Zine Layout Design
Each zine follows the same structure of introducing the film with a brief summary, highlights of the film approaches by Lee, my film notes, and the message. All the zines include a poster which is an 11x 16 versionthe cover of the zine. All of these deliverables are packaged in a clear sleeve with a logo sticker.
The Black Trauma Discourse
In Films of the 21st Century
The Black Trauma Discourse is a digital exhibition guiding viewers through how racial trauma is displayed in the film industry
The categories of trauma explored (code-switching, psychological fears, and racial stereotypes) will aim to explain how these depictions relate to the Black experience. The goal is to question how films feature Black trauma and its relevance to the underlying message
Primary Logo
Secondary Logo
Objective
With new film adaptations featuring aspects of Black Trauma, it is important to analyze how filmmakers use it and its impact on how the Black experience is shown. To determine what is deemed appropriate and inappropriate, I created this visual conversation that can be used as a guide to practice audience discernment. The goal is to see how these types of traumas are visually, verbally, and physically represented in films and how they relate to depicting Black voices accurately.
Solution
My process started with researching types of trauma that commonly show up in films in the 21st century that talk about topics of Black Trauma. I found three common tropes of Black Trauma that show up in films in this era that relate to the Black Experience: Code-switching, Psychological fears, and Racial Stereotypes. These three categories became the structure for this project and I started gathering films that fit into these tropes. From there, I began developing the identity for this project to leave my audience with a general guide on analyzing depictions of Black Trauma in a desensitized society using discernment. By encouraging awareness of how lack of intent from filmmakers can lead to re-traumatization, I aim to shift the focus on pushing a greater narrative in the film industry when it comes to displaying Black stories. This conversation is a complete exhibition with print pieces that help get my audience involved in my messaging.
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Featured Deliverables:
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1. Exhibition Catalog
2. Poster
3. Museum Banners
4. Events Guide
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These deliverables work together to advertise the event and keep people involved in the events in the community that further speak to my project. The colors, shapes, and layouts are meant to be approachable while maintaining that bold feel that emphasizes the importance of this conversation.
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With the combination of my own judgment and concrete statements, I will be displaying my research as a way to show filmmakers the affects of using these types of traumas as the blueprint for their narratives and guide them on the right path.
Exhibtion Design
Each deliverable is a component of the full exhibition of my research for this visual conversation.
5 Reasons the Black Vote Matters
The History & Importance of Black Voices
An infographic carousel highlighting the political and social importance of the Black vote in American society
Objective
Solution
Conduct research to create a social media post that informs the African American population in America the importance of voting and the history connected to it.
This infographic highlights the political and social importance of the Black vote in American society. Each part of this carousel expands on various aspects concerning this topic such as statistics in previous elections, how Black leaders paved the way for future Black Americans, and sparking change for the sake of civil rights. The goal was to raise awareness of the importance of exercising your rights, knowing your history, and using your voice.
Infographic Gallery
The Possibility for Liberation
The Legacy of James Baldwin
A book based on the Life & Achievements of James Baldwin
Objective
Solution
Design a book covering a topic that requires research and informs an audience about a person of importance. The book layouts must follow a grid system and display knowledge of visual hierarchy.
The Possibility for Liberation is a book based on the life and achievements of James Baldwin.
The book goes through his childhood, career, popular works, and life goals with a focus on
how he navigated racism during the 1950s + 60s. Although this is not necessarily a campaign, the graphics that support the message of the book provides a visual reference to the famous writer.
Afro Avant-Garde
Reclaiming Black Identity in Film
A Black Film Festival based in Grand Rapids, Michigan in collaboration with the Grand Rapids African American Museum
Objective
Solution
Design a campaign around a event in collaboration with a non-profit organization. The design must reflect a greater cause and serve a purpose. The dleiverables must connect to the overall theme and concept of the event.
Afro Avant-Garde is a Black Film Festival based in Grand Rapids, Michigan in collaboration with the Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives. The mission is to create a space for of black filmmakers and artists to come together and display their works. The goal is to create a sense of community and culture where it is needed. The design process book displays the development of the event and how it functions.
Bonzai Gardens
A Brand Guide for Environmental Design
Bonzai Gardens is a non-profit urban garden service that provides edible and decorative plants in urban areas across the country
Objective
Design a brand guide with deliverables centralized around the topic of creating a service to better city environments.
Solution
Bonzai Gardens is a non-profit urban garden that provides edible and decorative plants in urban areas across the country. The focus is to use recyclable and decomposable materials to create these spaces that are non-toxic to the environment. Reusable spaces such as rooftops, balconies, alleyways are utilized in order to produce fresh homegrown food to communities that normally do not acess to these resources.
