AUDIENCE: CREATIVE COMMUNITY
Not only do I believe in this project’s ability to initiate important social dialogue, I also believe that documenting the process of creating it would be extremely beneficial for the creative community.
When researching the residency before I first applied two years ago, I found Becky Simpson’s posts very helpful. As much as I enjoyed seeing her work, I especially loved reading about howeach project came together – and I would want to do something similar. Since I would be looking to mainly do one, large-scale project, I would love to do chronological social posts (Instagram/IG Live/personal site) that show more of the business side of creating An: Alphabet Book. The logistics of a large project are always fascinating to me and something that I want to see discussed more, as it is just as important as the creating. I recently watched a great conversation on IGTV on what it took to actually make The Carters APES**T music video happen – all of the legal contracts and permissions that it required. As stunning as it is, a lot went into making the creative part even possible – and more creatives need to hear about that.
In addition to sharing my creative process – how I layout text, pacing, color correcting images – I want to provide regular working tips that discuss the following: How did I gain the University’s support? If not, how did I go about getting the information I needed? How did I navigate relationships with the photographer and illustrator? How did I legally protect my work? Was there a legal process for having student participation? How did I juggle setting all of these other things up and still manage to design and produce the book? All of this information would be shared regularly as snippets through my Instagram stories, with more in-depth information available on my site. I think this level of insight would be welcomed by many creatives, especially the young creatives.
Since the residency also promotes adding new skills, I also want to create a silkscreen print series on R&B music and work this into my final project (as mentioned above in “Creative Tools”). I will document my progression, the final prints (2 per month during the first six months), and how I incorporate this new trade into my larger project through my Instagram and website.
Lastly, for all of the creatives out there grinding to make their work a reality and feeling rejected, I want them to feel encouraged to continue. Honestly speaking, I thought my work would have been out there by now and it has not happened that way. I have spent the past five or so years at a 9-to-5 creating for other people, making whatever efforts I could to create work that I am truly passionate about. This is my third time applying for this program over the last three years, going back to that same job when I was not chosen and refining my proposal. If I were to be chosen as a 2019 resident, I would be further encouragement to keep going. Timing is everything and what is meant for you will be, as long as you keep going.
OTHER AUDIENCE
Having this platform as an Adobe Creative Resident to share all of the ways that I am bringing my dream project to reality will definitely spark my social audience, but growing that audience and keeping them engaged will be one of my biggest challenges. This audience will be crucial to help drum up excitement for the book throughout the year, which I hope to include the student participants and University in, as well.
Once An Alphabet Book: Revisited is printed, I would send the books out to a contact list I developed throughout the year – focusing on University administrators at PWI’s; businesses, organizations, and news outlets that fit the conversation; as well as people in entertainment who would have an interest in the book (The Read podcast, Justin Simien from Dear White People, creator Issa Rae, etc).
I would also look to have an official launch on the Notre Dame campus – most likely taking place after the residency. The first part of the launch would involve giving a talk to the design students about my journey from that design program to Adobe Creative Resident. The second and final phase of the launch would include hosting a panel discussion for the larger campus community, specifically focusing on the book and the conversations that surround it.
IMPACT: NOTRE DAME & GREATER
First and foremost, I want the students in this project to feel seen and be heard. I was that black student at Notre Dame immersed in a population where the majority of folks around me made their own assumptions about who the black students were while truly had no idea how nuanced the black experience is. I also know, as does each black person who has ever attended a PWI, that the assumptions and uncomfortableness do not stop after undergrad – and this inability to be understood ultimately affects how we are treated at many levels. At the very least, I want to see that strides have been made at my alma mater since my sophomore year.
I want this project to force the Notre Dame administration and other PWI’s to take advantage of this continued conversation of race and empathy and use it as a teaching tool to actually better campus life by paying attention to their students and using that information to develop the correct policies and other necessary retainment practices.