Heart of Sneakers Concert Tee: Look Book
This project is a defining moment in my journey as Trill Multicultural's in-house Graphic Designer. It’s a wild ride through my initial foray into the corporate world, where my passion for cultural design clashed with the rigid confines of brand guidelines. Despite the bumps, this project is a vibrant testament to my love for design, threading a unique line through music tours, fashion, and community engagement.
The Mission: Design an exclusive World Tour tee for the Willowbrook Mall 'Store of the Future' Grand Opening. The goal? Create a buzz around the merch while embedding it within a larger community experience. It wasn’t just about the tee; it was about creating memories that amplified the value of the merch.
The Look Book: Seven electrifying looks, each bursting with inspiration and creativity.
Look 1: The iconic Foot Locker stripes reimagined into a Wu-Tang Clan-inspired Statue of Liberty pose – a blend of street culture and iconic imagery.
Look 2: A tribute to Kendrick Lamar's Big Steppers Tour artwork, featuring a chaotic mix of typefaces. The back of the tee boasts this masterpiece, while the front showcases a hip-hop Striper group with a 90s vibe, backed by a globe and lined with H.O.S hearts.
Looks 3 & 4: Deep dives into 90s hip-hop influences, rendering the era’s essence into wearable art.
Looks 5 to 7: Vintage Olympic designs, unearthed from the depths of Pinterest, given new life through bold, contemporary reinterpretations.
The journey culminates in the final tee design and snapshots from the Store of the Future Grand Opening in May, capturing the essence of the event and the community spirit it fostered.
Reflection: Yes, I danced on the edge of brand compliance, but this project is a cherished chapter in my creative story. It’s a showcase of the cool, boundary-pushing designs that I couldn’t keep to myself. This look book is more than a portfolio piece; it’s a statement of my growth, my risk-taking spirit, and my dedication to design.
And no, I didn’t snag a tee for myself. This oversight has sparked a new idea: to print a unique, exclusive edition – a 1 of 1 original. This project, shared only here on Dribble, is a bold declaration of my creative journey, a nod to the vibrant heart of sneakers, and a testament to the memories we create and cherish.
"Wait. There's one more change......"
Final Thoughts: [Heavy breathing] This is the moment I fully digested the weight of "brand guidelines," but I must admit I’m grateful it took me a bit longer than it should have. After all, who in their right mind would knowingly create seven looks like those in my Look Book, fully aware of the inevitable? The knowledge I have now makes me wonder how some brand non-compliant designs made it through final approvals. But I’ll leave you with this thought:
What are we going to do to 1) save me hours of work and 2) make this concept way sexier, way more elevated, and yet perfectly in line with those brand guidelines next time?
