I have been told to speak about this. I haven't even thought about sharing this until just now. I make websites.
I always feel so much more informed about the world and my practice as an artist when I make them, and frequently engage in making them as part of my creative processing and practice.
I also create my own branding. Most of the projects I am involved in require me to create a branded package of ideas around why the project exists. It has been one of the ways with which I am able to open a conversation with a commissioning partner or co-collaborator.
The Poets Built It Online Community name and logo has perhaps been the most enjoyable to conceive, because, as its founder, I have an powerful connection to its concept - "Poets Supporting Poets." PBI is an opportunity to expand on your life skills as a poet, develop your practice as a poet, and be a part of a community of like-minded artists.
This project is supported by Apples and Snakes, London's trail blazing poetry and spoken word charity organisation who has been championing poets for 40 years! Their continued support makes it possible.
For my practice as an eco-awareness raising educator, Nature Persists is another fulfilling logo and website to make. The urban environs of London is part of my very being. I am a Londoner of a Afri-Carib-British heritage. My call to raise awareness about how we can be more connected to the natural world in a bustling city like London is enhanced by my British London Migrant settler experience. As it is Black History Month here in the UK, I am drawn to think about this especially when it comes Nature Persists' branding creation.
The logo and the website are a distillation of my thoughts and ethos around the ways we are part of the ecology of planet Earth, and how the natural world is present, safeguarding our health and well being. If we examine how we pay attention to nature in cities and consider a reciprocity to Earth as big country town and city dwellers, our vital partnership with the natural world will be one of exciting and realistic possibility. Especially around urban sustainability. Cue Synergy Slam Poets!
Synergy Slam Poets, in partnership with Apples and Snakes, is a series of themed poetry, spoken word and performance workshop programs designed and created by myself, in partnership with Apples and Snakes Poetry. Born from the ethos of Nature Persists , Synergy Slam Poets is an online and in- person series of courses designed to encourage participants to continually seek positive a mindset in their creativity when exploring about the climate and ecological crisis. Synergy Slam Poets is a vibrant project to spark the imagination and inspire new writing for the Synergy Slam Poets Film Competitions.
What was on thinking at the time of this creation?
Imaging the future with compulsory green walls and roof top gardens
Horticulture included the sciences as compulsory learning from primary school age through to exam time in secondary school and college
having access to 'the language of an inspired future'.
With this ongoing project, I acquired a new confidence in a visual language around the concept of sustainability and eco-awareness that is light on politics and focused on a global human culture in more tune with planet Earth's behaviour.
E-flyer Development
In 2018, and as a baby graphic designer learning as I went along, I was commission by the School of African and Oriental Studies with The Endangered Languages Documentation Programme to curate a program of poetry performances for International Mother Language day. With this came a new requisite of learning how to incorporate the language of an academic institution, yet still remain accessible to the students.
This project enabled me to understand the importance of the distillation of a sensitive theme - the celebration of indigenous groups who are endangered and the principle of the next generations having access to their culture through language. I curaLearning how to pitch this event for an academic body came through comprehending the value good copy placement, typeface and selecting strong imagery.
To end this blog post about this new area of creativity accompanying my poetry writing practice, i'd like to say thank you to all the commissions, co-collaborations and partnershops I have had in the arts and creative industries for giving me an opportunity to add another string to my bow.
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