Tell us about yourself:
I am a Graphic Designer with a Focus in Illustration living in Kansas City Kansas. I enjoy a lot of activities but at the end of the day, artwork is my passion.
What is the inspiration behind your poster design?
I wanted to incorporate various elements of black street fashion into my design. You can define “culture” in a myriad of ways but I believe that fashion is a branch of black culture that has been a strong force in modern media. I wanted to celebrate that.
Why do you love being creative?
I get a strong sense of validation and accomplishment when I can create something with just my mind and my hands. There’s no better feeling than finishing a piece and saying, “I did that.” Also, the power to transfer my thoughts and feelings onto a page effectively is an extremely rewarding feeling.
Tell us about your experiences in the design world…
It’s been great. I know my worth as an artist and I have been blessed enough that others have recognized it. Working at an agency that is predominately white is great because it means I can be a bridge between the communities that might not have been there if I wasn’t around.
How can we create a more inclusive design world and ensure that Black people are represented?
I believe that it starts with training. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter if you’re black, white, or whatever. If your work is good, you can go places with it. The same is true with the opposite.
If we can find more ways to get black students interested in enrolling in design and illustration programs, we’ll be on the right track to bringing more of us into the creative field.
In general… How can we make more equity or equality for us?
Nowadays, companies are eager to hire people of color but, if the quality of work they see isn’t up to todays standards, you’re not gonna get very far. Like I said before, getting black students interested in art is the most important part. Education is a valuable tool to have in your belt when applying for jobs. When looking at portfolios, you can tell who’s been professionally trained, and who doesn’t really have an eye for the key principals of design. The more black students coming out of college or design programs with stellar portfolios the better.
