addis barge
graphic design, curation, cultural storyteller
about
instagram
linkedIn
resume
contact
Hood Century (work in progress)
Hood Century is a preserrvation movement that is dedicated to bridging the gap between modern architecture in the lived environment of urban communities and Black culture. It's an exploration of what happens when modernism intersects with the Black perspective. This journey has led me to define a unique visual language, for Hood Century that defines "black modernism" as Hood Century. Yes, it's true—there is modernism in the hood!
Defining a system
This project comes to life by weaving together pop culture references, architectural elements, and historical insights. Typography and color became a exploration of form, shape, and attitude. Referencing modernism, and black culture.
Visual Language Development
Hood Century engages with urban communities and their surrounding environments by connecting them with elements they're already familiar with. It was exciting to reference the blend of rap culture, architectural design, and the Black perspective to form the cornerstone of the visual language.
Exhibition & Spatial Design
Back to top
It Be Like Dat! (The Aestethics and Commodification of Ebonice (AAVE)
Exhibition, Publication Design, Generative Coding, Curation
Awards/Recognitions:
Core77 Design Awards 2024, Design for Social Impact Student Runner UpIt Be Like Dat! The Aesthetics and Commodification of Ebonics is my publication design that seeks to drive social discussion. Through meticulous research, I explore social, political, and cultural issues, and visually communicate the challenges encountered. This book acts as a narrative and a tribute to Ebonics, delving deep into its history, culture, and community artistry. By utilizing typography and archival imagery, I was passionate about honoring and preserving the essence of Ebonics.
Publication Design
I focused on crafting a visually rich publication & exhibition that serves as both a narrative and homage to the cultural and dialectical aspects of Ebonics. This wasn't just a study of linguistics; it was a holistic exploration of history, culture, and the dynamic artistry of a resilient community.
Publication Design
Typography illustrated the attitude, grammatical structures, and phonetics of Ebonics, while strategic archival imagery formed the pillars of my visual narrative. The objective was to honor and preserve the authenticity of Ebonics, firmly rejecting any notion of its illegitimacy or use for exploitation.
Exhibition Design & Generative Coding
I initiated a prototype envisioning user interaction with the publication, unfolding the story onto and around the book. I explored adding another layer to the physical book, enabling the viewer to engage with Ebonics through sound, touch, and sensation.
I familiarized myself with various technical tools like Processing and Arduino, and through experimenting, I found a solution where technology would recede into the background, allowing the viewers to immerse themselves in the linguistic story of Ebonics.
Back to top
California African American Museum
Visual Identity
The rebranding of CAAM focuses on the rich and diverse contributions of African Americans and the broader African diaspora. My design for the visual identity connects the past and present and highlights culture and research. It reinforces the museum's role in cultural storytelling and academic inquiry.
This rebrand inspires audiences to engage deeply with the museum's exhibits, reflect on their identities, appreciate the ongoing influence of the Black community, and view culture as a form of technology.
Project Description
The challenge was to create a dynamic visual system, combining language and graphics across print, digital, and spatial media. The logo system utilized the brackets that nest the double “a” for “African American” to focus and emphasize the importance of black art.
Spatial Design
In a spatial context, the brackets also play a role in highlighting powerful imagery and figures, the system provides functions such as signage, advertising, and spatial environments. The brackets adjust and flex and are fixed according to their spatial context, and the environment they are in.
Print MaterialBeyond the logo, the brackets became a foundation in the typographic system as a messaging device. Within this system, the brackets flex their ability to contain messages, information, and technology within them, much like how culture functions. They adapt, stretch, and expand depending on the context and form. The brackets also play a role in highlighting powerful imagery and figures.
Back to top