As one of the two in-house illustrators integrated into Design Systems, it was my responsibility to illustrate, critique, document, and safeguard all libraries and guidelines belonging to our team. Each piece was seamlessly integrated into our illustration system, and as such, all the work showcased here is the result of collaborative efforts between my peers and me.
Contributors:
I conceptualized, illustrated, researched, and expanded every aspect of the 2D Avatar design system and its integration into various other Facebook App products, all while taking into account the experiences of 3 billion potential users. Additionally, I created 2D orthographics of Avatar designs intended for 3D rendering and oversaw their direct translation into the Metaverse. This encompassed creating concept art with callouts for 3D artists.
After transitioning from Avatars to the Visual Systems Expressions team, my responsibilities grew to include art direction for creative vendors, illustration of cultural moments, and providing guidance to other in-house artists.
Canvas, a Ford subsidiary, aims to make car leasing easier for the modern driver by offering month-to-month car subscriptions.
It was necessary to distinguish ourselves from the branding of traditional car dealerships in order to convey the innovative services we offer. As Canvas’s sole illustrator, I worked closely with Brand and Product to develop a unique illustration style which felt relatable, simple, and human.
Our team earned a design award for Urban Mobility from SF Design Week.
From 2021: “Raheem is an independent service for reporting police conduct in the United States. We work to translate the lived experiences of people impacted by police violence into effective policy, officer accountability, and new narratives about how we keep our communities safe.”
Before I began pro-bono work for Raheem, their website featured only text and photographs. The head of product and CEO needed to convey a complex story through clear and sincere illustrations. Raheem needed an art style that was both approachable and straightforward. Given that 95% of people do not report incidents of police violence, it was crucial that my drawings didn't come across as deceptive to an already skeptical user base. I opted for an illustration style reminiscent of political cartoons, a widely recognized art form for effectively addressing serious topics.
Raheem's primary brand color, yellow, was consistently used to symbolize the journey from collective reporting to influencing policy change and societal transformation.
My latest project consisted of an illustration of the team and an end card for their chatbot, which was animated and designed by the creative studio, momoheddo.
I had the honor of being hosted by Adobe to livestream my process over two days, while I answered viewers’ questions about illustration techniques, creative mindsets, and life.
Following this stream is a series of ongoing personal work within the same art style.
The March of the Hypemon is a character design passion project. I synthesized streetwear, pop culture, and nostalgic artifacts from my past to unify a cast of characters from disparate universes. Over the course of this exercise, I designed over 30 logos to embellish the characters.
I was recruited by SuperJoy, The Martin Agency’s creative studio, as the environmental visual development artist for a teaser animation. The Martin Agency is the creator of "Now Upon a Time," a podcast featuring modernized fairytales rewritten with empowering messages. We produced a short film for "Lil’ Ruby Riding Hood," which chronicles Ruby’s solitary journey from Brooklyn to her grandmother’s house in West Haven, CT.
Throughout my engagement, I demonstrated painting techniques and provided guidance to several junior texture painters to ensure the faithful execution of my concept art.
The project was directed by Liam Ward.
I was hired by Lauk Haus to create a series of illustrations for the California Health Care Foundation's guide book on Cultural Integration in Community Health Partnerships & Alliances. The book included 31 highly complex subjects requiring concise illustrations which flowed together as a cohesive narrative.
I created this free digital print as a self-initiated fundraiser for the Richmond Community Bail Fund.
Click here to download a digital print which can be printed at either 8” x 10”, or 16” x 20”.
This print references a photograph of Ballerinas Kennedy George, 14, and Ava Holloway, 14, posing in front of a monument of Confederate general Robert E. Lee in Richmond after Virginia Governor Ralph Northam ordered its removal.
The fundraiser took place on personal social media accounts and was featured on Sheryl Sandberg’s socials.
The Nectar Press was a contemporary print shop for all ages.