In 2023, the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (MWF) hosted its first-ever Alumni Symposium in Boksburg, South Africa. This week-long event provided an opportunity for recent Fellowship Alumni to meet and engage in topics pertaining to U.S.-African relations following the lifting of travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MWF wanted the Symposium branding to stand out from their other events, which had begun to explore creative use of pattern and color, but still maintain a cohesive look. I went all-in on pattern using a design inspired by Shweshwe—a type of printed cloth, traditionally dyed indigo, which is widely used in traditional South African clothing. Yellow, red, and green were added to the pattern; these colors, found in flags across Sub-Saharan Africa, also represent the participating countries of the Alumni. This repeating circular design created a seamless background that could be applied to all digital and physical products.
Application of the branding extended to event collateral, including:
· Signage – banners, posters, campus flags, table wraps, step and repeat backdrops
· Assets for digital app
· Social media graphics
· Digital and print invitations
· Name badge templates
· Powerpoint template
· Dinner menus
The client shared post-event that everyone loved the branding. Many team members and attendees were impressed by the design.
All event photos credited to Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Client: Mandela Washington Fellowship
Studio: Comella Design Group