ANSWERED: The Black Design Aesthetic
Taeler Braithwaite
ANSWERED: The Black Design Aesthetic is about how assembling and documenting the black aesthetic in American graphic
design is important because there needs to be an acknowledgment of the contributions and influences of the black
perspective and tradition. A thorough history and documentation of a variety of black graphic work can identify black
formal elements, and prove the existence of the black aesthetic and thereby incorporate it in the American graphic
design history. My research plan is to set a historical framework around black graphic work, compile visual research to
help identify the black aesthetic, and to conduct interviews with designers, historians, and educators to gather the
fragmented information of black design history. With my thesis, I want to be able to contribute to the design canon and
include the perspective of black Americans.
ANSWERED: The Black Design Aesthetic Book
Final version of my thesis book ANSWERED: The Black Design Aesthetic.
Don’t Touch My Hair
Don’t Touch My Hair is based on the experiences of many black Americans when it comes to microaggression interactions with their peers. Taking a stance on the boundaries of black people’s hair reminds others that touching a black person’s hair can be othering and disrespectful.
Black in Education
We The People
This poster was created to bring attention to police brutality that happens towards black Americans. There are many cases of police brutality that I have seen through social media and the news about black people being killed by the police for doing normal, everyday activities that the police deemed suspicious. This poster creates emphasis on cases of police brutality and reminds people of the false meaning of the U.S. constitution when it comes to all Americans having basic rights.
Affirmative Action
This was a poster that I designed and was inspired by visual research on the black power movement and the consistent use of geometric shapes throughout various black designers’ works. In addition, I wanted to highlight the recent issue with affirmative action being withdrawn because it targets and reflects the current experience of black Americans.
Beyoncé
Beyoncé, the graphic, was created to bring attention to modern day black accomplishments that are currently happening. I wanted to celebrate the historical moment of inclusion and the evolution of the black image that is being created by this tour.