Respect Her Crank!: Designing Sounds of Blackness

Energetic text reading "Respect Her Crank: Sounds of Blackness” "Designing""

Black women have strategically used graphic design to enhance their sound. Just think about your favorite album cover, whether it be The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill or Megan Thee Stallion’s Fever. In Respect Her Crank! Designing Sounds of Blackness, prominent graphic designer Candice Taylor draws the relationship between graphic design and music throughout multiple workshops designed to teach the fundamental principles of design.

Register for a workshop, or several, today. No prior experience is needed.

A Visual Voice
Tuesday, February | 16 4:00–5:30  (tailored for educators, open to all)
Thursday, February | 18 4:00–5:30  (for teens)

What is the relationship between graphic design and music? This workshop discusses the principles of design and how they have been successfully used with iconic music.

The Letters in the Lyrics
Tuesday, March 16 | 4:00–5:30  (tailored for educators, open to all)
Thursday, March 18 | 4:00–5:30  (for teens)

Music is constantly evolving, similarly, typography is as well. In this workshop, explore the shifts in typography and music throughout various eras and genres.

Brand New Sound
Tuesday, April 20 | 4:00–5:30  (tailored for educators, open to all)
Thursday, April 22 | 4:00–5:30  (for teens)

The biggest musicians have recognizable brands. A logo is one of the most important elements of a musician’s brand. In this workshop, learn how a logo can be designed to elevate and differentiate a musicians identity.

From Your Eyes to Your Ears
Tuesday, May 18 | 4:00–5:30 p.m. (tailored for educators, open to all)
Thursday, May 20 | 4:00–5:30 p.m. (for teens)

Have you ever pressed play on an album because the cover art caught your attention? Cover art illustrates the stories told throughout the entire album. By studying popular album cover art, learn to visually narrate sonic stories.

Poster Child
Tuesday, June 15 | 4:00–5:30  (tailored for educators, open to all)
Thursday, June 17 | 4:00–5:30  (for teens)

Some of your favorite musicians slowly gained recognition in their neighborhoods, cities, and towns, by performing and promoting their music locally. They used flyers and posters to capture the attention of potential fans. In this workshop, learn how to design promotional graphics that captivate musical audiences.

This project received support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative.