In celebration of Black History Month, the Brooklyn Public Library of NYC (BPL) opted to celebrate by releasing a t-shirt design highlighting the black family amongst generations and the diaspora. I was approached after entering my design for a library card for BPL centered on the same theme.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/7d1e04f6-abc8-432c-bf2d-5330dfcdd5dc/9c94511f-23c7-4437-a46b-a1de939df9fb_rw_1200.gif?h=d67ea0e373bdcc7cf1d58953909ecb2e)
The Design
Ok. Admittedly the first designs turned out a bit hectic. My inspiration lied within the shape of the "Black Power Fist" due to its importance in the black community and symbol of strength. I attempted to show the diversity of the black community by sketching a collection of subjects both old and young/ new and old engaging in various joyful activities (barbequing, braiding hair, etc). However, simplicity is the key to understanding.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/7d1e04f6-abc8-432c-bf2d-5330dfcdd5dc/70f6a33f-fbf1-418b-9f47-6550c451e66d_rw_1920.png?h=02fe508759339902f90d8ff6813c259f)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/7d1e04f6-abc8-432c-bf2d-5330dfcdd5dc/5f879146-5015-47ac-8bd4-d189dd39bb0a_rw_3840.jpg?h=32b09e2335cda4c41bf5205cea7a7e02)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/7d1e04f6-abc8-432c-bf2d-5330dfcdd5dc/f613466b-d8f5-4b9d-96a8-70009ac8e722_rw_1920.png?h=16e0239c6bba5a3915ee4170e6df9461)
For the final design, I removed both the text and focused on one activity that I deemed most universal; the family photograph. I wanted to continue to pay tribute to the integrity of the black power fist and therefore opted to maintain the fist shape sans the wrist. Keeping it Simple.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/7d1e04f6-abc8-432c-bf2d-5330dfcdd5dc/9e5de387-f63e-4046-bfb5-0cfc69592bdd_rw_1920.png?h=9f4e8f51c20ee11b644bf1931c09ab43)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/7d1e04f6-abc8-432c-bf2d-5330dfcdd5dc/05a83de2-fd93-4812-8917-6a9dc77315f5_rw_1200.png?h=404564535f40914a4535f3e49daf5cdb)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/7d1e04f6-abc8-432c-bf2d-5330dfcdd5dc/b6cbc6b9-0847-48cb-bf0b-bf6e3dadbeb4_rw_1920.png?h=fcca25184caec0435cec6ac83b5caace)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/7d1e04f6-abc8-432c-bf2d-5330dfcdd5dc/bf249aed-7eb7-4d20-a802-e770013ec30f_rw_1200.png?h=ad905a42efe9de0c2957b6e6f1fc300c)