I begin every project by gaining as much information as I can about my client, their industry, relevant history, and current events. This is followed by an interview or workshop to solidify mission, vision, goals, strategy, positioning, and brand expression.

In Dr. Kim’s case, we explored her interest in opening academic discussion up to a wider audience while maintaining rigor and thoughtfulness. Visual influences included Monet paintings, the vintage Montreal Expos logo, and Tanner Adell.

I try to always follow Allan Peter’s advice and draw 100 sketches. It's harder than you'd think, but this time I got close! I also use watercolor to explore color and its relationship to form.

I also examined the use of iconography, although it did not end up being necessary at this time. Maybe in the future when the density of content increases, more indicators such as icons could be helpful.

Some inspirations that came during sketching and brainstorming;

• Virgil Abloh’s use of the quotation mark to question the supremacies in fashion
• The use of the quilt by Black people in the US to communicate and keep each other safe
• Tying the quilt pattern to Bisa Butler’s and Monet’s vibrant color palettes.
• Uniting the quotation mark with the Montreal Expos round, Cooper Black(ish) style.

Once we had a direction that felt strong, I refined it and applied the golden ratio. I found reflections of the quotation mark in the negative space, which aligned well with the brand value of reflecting what seems hidden on first glance.

The typography is inspired by Harper’s Bazaar, an American standard in cultural commentary and imagery that tells a story.

Touchpoints include;

• book launch readings at libraries and coffee shops
• speaking events at universities
• signage to communicate upcoming events
• bookmarks
• lanyards
• stationery
• business cards
• website
• social media