Curator | Into the Blackscape

Into the Blackscape is a research-based exhibition that evolved from my MFA thesis of the same name, exploring the intersections of Black identity, visibility, and systemic exclusion in design education and industry. As curator, I sought to create an immersive visual dialogue that questioned what it means to design within and beyond the boundaries of representation.

The exhibition featured the work of emerging and established Black designers, artists, and students, inviting viewers to confront the cultural, institutional, and pedagogical structures that have historically defined design’s “neutral” aesthetic. Through graphic installations, typographic studies, and archival storytelling, Into the Blackscape positioned Black creativity not as a niche contribution but as a critical framework for innovation and progress in the field.

My role extended beyond curation—I developed the visual identity, exhibition layout, and accompanying publication using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. The exhibition acted as both a continuation of my thesis research and a community-centered intervention, bringing theory into practice through collective visibility and shared authorship.

At its core, Into the Blackscape is a reclamation of space. It celebrates the presence, labor, and imagination of Black designers while calling for new educational models that honor the fullness of our creative narratives.