Concept: The Black Art Sessions [B.A.S] is a community-based initiative aimed at increasing accessibility for Black artists in the commercial art world. The STRAIGHT LICK global online gallery show was an extension of this initiative that sought to showcase the work of Black artists to a global audience.
Goals: The goal of the project was to create a safe space for Black artists to network, learn from each other, and explore different career opportunities in the commercial art world. The STRAIGHT LICK online gallery show aimed to promote the work of Black artists to a global audience and increase engagement with the Black Art Sessions community.
Outcomes: The project was a huge success, with over 150 students from all over the world participating in the Black Art Sessions. The STRAIGHT LICK global online gallery show received positive feedback from viewers and helped increase engagement with the Black Art Sessions community. The redesigned website resulted in a 5% increase in conversion rates, and the style guide and brand guidelines served as the foundation for all future design projects.
As the art director and UX designer for the Black Art Sessions [B.A.S] project, my responsibilities included designing all of the design elements, and templates, and ensuring brand consistency for the STRAIGHT LICK global online gallery show. I conducted extensive user research through targeted interviews and usability testing to increase accessibility for users around the globe. I collaborated with Ebony L. Haynes, Director at David Zwirner, and other stakeholders to design and develop the online gallery show, spearheading the design efforts and creating a consistent visual identity across all design elements and templates. I also coordinated the design team members, maintained a detailed project plan, tracked project progress, and ensured on-time delivery of projects. Finally, I championed the use of responsive web design and accessibility standards to create a website that is fully functional on desktop and mobile devices.
