Overview
Otis Design Lab was asked to (co)create key art for a new documentary film about mobility justice in Los Angeles. The film’s Director and Otis alum, Yolanda Davis-Overstreet, expressed that the artwork should evoke both the oppression of Black lives and the triumph of Black joy, achieved by persevering in the face of injustice.
Process
From day one, this project was different from other projects. It came with a reading list (which provided students with a crash course in mobility justice, and the ways Black and Brown lives are disproportionately endangered while walking and cycling), as well as a playlist. Yolanda suggested that the students listen to specific artists and songs that are of significance to the BIPOC community in order to harness the feeling of triumphing over injustice. This struck a chord, and some students took it even further, diving into the history of redlining in Los Angeles, discovering the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers, and drawing visual inspiration from Emory Douglas, graphic designer of the Black Panther Party. As the project progressed, a co-creative dialogue between the designers and Davis’s team took shape. The hands shown in the poster were originally envisioned as a symbol of freedom - with the client's suggestion to add a map of Los Angeles, highlighting historically dangerous areas for Black cyclists and pedestrians, the design achieves deeper meaning.
The final poster was designed by Charlie Utter.
