‘Let Black Boys Be’ Brand refresh through the lens of Chez Baldwin Cafe
Role on Project:
Lead designer on merchandise + set design
Fabrication of set materials such as wooden gate + room
Creative Direction on photoshoot
Outcomes:
Sold out collection
Toured country using set design as immersive shopping experience for customers
“Let Black Boys Be” is one of prgrssn’s most beloved collections that aims to provide an accepting environment for Black men to be loved, seen, and supported for the boundless beings they are when given the space.
Since establishing “Let Black Boys Be” as a branch of prgrssn, I have sought to create worlds around stories and figures throughout Black history.
Inspired by the life + legacy of James Baldwin, "Chez Baldwin Cafe" is an immersive pop-up experience that pays homage to the Parisian cafe Baldwin wrote his first book, “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”
This is a traveling show that utilizes set design and merchandise to bring audiences into the world of Baldwin.
Design work completed by Oluwaseyi Adeleke.
Photography by Obinna Onyeka
Additional designed objects and graphics created for Chez Baldwin Cafe
Wanting to fully capture the essence of Baldwin writing his first novel in a french cafe, I designed objects that I viewed as Parisian adjacent to enhance the story and further push the universe. A teacup set and blanket were created and sold for the capsule. I also designed graphics and the set design to further capture the moment. Images are below.
