List of contemporary and historical BIPOC designers organized alphabetically with sources on each designer.
Gail Anderson
1962-
Born Bronx, NY, USA. Based in NYC. Graphic designer, writer, and educator. Previously senior art director at Rolling Stone magazine. Chair of BFA in Advertising and Design departments at School of Visual Arts. Creative director at Visual Arts Press.
- Gail Anderson Site: Gail Anderson’s site features an archive of her work and blog.
- Jul 2015 – Gail Anderson: Type Directors Club, 2015.
Member of the Type Director’s Club, Anderson was interviewed for a feature on their site. - Stories – Gail Anderson: Digital archive detailing Anderson’s life and achievements done by Readymag.
Pedro Bell
1950-2019
Artist, illustrator, and Album Artwork Designer. The designer behind many Funkadelic and solo George Clinton albums. Responsible for creating “The Invasion Force” visual identity for the members of Funkadelic. Also created posters, press kits, and promotional materials.
- Pedro Bell, Offical Website of George Clinton: George Clinton’s website features a comprehensive bio of Pedro Bell’s contributions to Funkadelic and himself.
- “Pedro Bell Whose Wild Album Covers Defined Funkadelic, Dies at 69“: NY Times, 2019. Biography of Bell’s life with images of various album covers designed by him.
- Black Utopia: The Funkadelic Art of Pedro Bell”: Afro Punk, 2019.
Highlights Funkadelic and Pedro Bell’s influence on Childish Gambino’s 2016 album and album artwork for “Awaken. My Love!” - Funkadelic Cover Artist Pedro Bell Dead at 69″: Rolling Stone, 2019.
Biography of Bell’s life with images of various album covers designed by him.
Tom Burrell
1939–
Advertisement and Communications. Born and based in Chicago. One of the first African Americans in Advertising. Co-founder of Burrell McBain Inc.
- “How Tom Burrell Convinced Corporations that Black People Are Not Light-Skinned White People”: WTTW, 2018.
An article detailing Burrell’s story and how he rose from his position as mailroom attendant to renowned marketer. - “Negative Images ‘Brainwash’ African Americans”: NPR, 2010.
Podcast where Burrell speaks about how many advertisements featuring Black people are propaganda advocating for Black inferiority.
Joshua Darden
1979-
Born and based in LA, California. Known as the first African American Typeface designer.
- Joshua Darden Site: Joshua Darden’s work site featuring typfaces he designed.
Aaron Douglas
1899-1979
Illustrator, designer, painter & educator. Born in Topeka, Kansas. Earned a BFA from the University of Nebraska. Highly influential throughout the Harlem Renaissance. Moved around a lot, was based in Harlem, New York City from 1925-27.
- “Aaron Douglas | 2018 AIGA Medalist”: AIGA, 2018.
Video featuring and detailing the importance of Douglas’ work during the Harlem Renaissance. - “Aaron Douglas”: Black Past, 2007.
Short biography of Douglas’ life and achievements on a website with other information about Black history, African history, and additional resources. - Aaron Douglas – Wiki Art: Archive of some of Douglas’ work.
- The Book Art of Harlem Renaissance Artist Aaron Douglas: A Bibliography: Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, 2019.
A compilation of books with jackets designed by Douglas and magazines and journals featuring his work.
Emory Douglas
1943-
Born Grand Rapids, Michigan. Attended City College of San Francisco. Graphic artist. Created the visual identity of the Black Panther Party, founded in 1966.
- “Art is a Powerful Tool”: Moma Magazine, 2021.
Article featuring some of Douglas’ work and discussing the lasting impact of the visual language he created for the Black Panther Party. - “Black Power in Print: The Black Panther Newspapers at Moma”: Moma Magazine, 2021.
Details and photos of resurfaced Black Panther newspapers, many of which can be viewed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
“This Just In: Emory Douglas and The Black Panther”: Letterform Archive, 2017.
Letterform Archive acquired 121 issues of The Black Panther newspaper. This article shares the layout of some of these issues with images and descriptions of the issues.
W.E.B DuBois
1868-1963
Born and raised in Great Barrington, MA. Traveled across the United States and the world for work and school. Graduated from Fisk and Harvard University. Also attended the University of Berlin. Writer, teacher, and sociologist created a range of data visualizations highlighting the lives of Black Americans.
- Silas Munro Lecture: “W.E.B. Du Bois’s Data Portraits: Visualizing Black America”: Wilson Center for Humanities and Arts, 2020.
Lecture by Silas Munro on Data Portraits by WEB DuBois. - W.E.B. Du Bois’s Typographics 2018: Data Portraits: Visualizing Black America with Silas Munro: Typographics, 2019.
Another lecture by Silas Munro on Data Portraits. - History | W.E.B DuBois: 2009.
Background of DuBois’ work, life, education, and more. Features a short video detailing life. - “Strivings of the Negro People”: excerpt published in The Atlantic, 1897.
Excerpt from book “Strivings of the Negro People” by WEB DuBois. Focuses on the duality of the Black/African American experience.
Arem Duplessis
1971-
Born in Boston, Massachusetts. Creative director, design director, and designer. Has designed for places such as NY Times, Apple, GQ.
- Arem Duplessis | 2018 AIGA Medalist: AIGA, 2018.
Biography of Duplessis’ life with images of various covers and spreads designed by him. - Arem Duplessis | 2018 AIGA Medalist: AIGA, 2018.
Duplessis discusses in video how he became interested in design and his different roles throughout his career.
Karin Fong
1971-
Director and Deisgner. Animator of “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego”, graduated from Yale University. Co-founder of motion graphics and design studio, Imaginary Forces.
- Karin Fong | Watch the Titles!: 2018.
Interview with Karin Fong by Watch the Titles. - Karin Fong | Imaginary Forces: A short bio about Karin on Imaginary Forces website featuring some of her work.
Sylvia Harris
1953-2011
Born in Richmond, VA. Moved to Boston after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University. Earned an MFA from Yale School of Art. Graphic Designer & Design Strategist. Developed census brand, did work for Citibank in early years as a designer, however, decided to branch off into public work for schools, hospitals, and civic agencies.
- Sylvia Harris | AIGA 2014 Medalist: Biography detailing Harris’ many achievements and work.
- Public Policy Lab Site: Public Policy Lab’s website. Harris co-founded this equal opportunity organization. This page features videos of presentations by Harris.
- “Remembering Sylvia Harris”: Design Observer, 2011.
Essay by friend of Sylvia Harris, Jessica Helfand mourning the loss of her friend and a staple member of many communties.
Natasha Jen
?-
Born in Taipei, Taiwan. Based in NYC. Graphic Designer. Partner at Pentagram design firm. Graduated School of Visual Arts with honors.
- Natasha Jen | Behance: Samples of Natasha’s work on Behance.net.
- Natasha Jen | Pentagram: Brief “About” page about Natasha Jen on Pentagram’s website.
- Natasha Jen | Design Portland: Interview with Natasha Jen.
- “Natasha Jen on the Power of Being a Critical Thinker in the Design World”: 2017, Design Indaba.
Features short talk with Natasha from 99U conference.
Louise E. Jefferson
1908-2002.
Born Washington, DC. Artist, graphic designer, calligrapher, cartographer, illustrator, and photographer. Attended Howard University then Hunter College and Columbia University after moving to New York City. Founding member of Harlem Artist Guild.
- AIGA Design Journeys | Louise E Jefferson: Biography of Louis E Jefferson featuring some of her works.
- “Americans of Negro Lineage”: Found on Rare Maps, publication – 1946.
Zoomable version of Jefferson’s map, Americans of Negro Lingeage detailing the importance of the African American community in the United States.
Jon Key
?-
Born Seale, Alabama. Graduated RISD. Artist, designer, and writer. Co-founder and design director at Codify Art.
- Maake | Jon Key: 2021.
Interview with Jon Key. - Jon Key Site: Jon Key’s website.
Saki Mafundikwa
1955-
Born Zimbabwe, Based in NYC and Zimbabwe. Graphic Designer, Typographer, Design Educator. MFA from Yale University. Founder of the first graphic arts school in Zimbabwe.
- Edie Opara – Design Lecture Series: 2018.
Lecture with Eddie Opara. - Saki Mafundikwa Site: Links to articles, talks, and other resources from Saki, many of which feature his work.
Bobby Martin
?-
Born Hampton, Virginia. Co-founder of Champions of Design. Studied Communications Arts and Design at Virginia Commonwealth University and has an MFA from the School of Visual Arts.
- Champions of Design Site | Bobby Martin: About Bobby Martin on Champions of Design website.
- Eye Magazine | Feature | Bobby C. Martin: Eyes Magazine, 2020.
Feature of Bobby Martin detailing achievments and short biography. - The Design of Business | The Business of Design: 2016.
Talk with Bobby Martin, Michael Beirut and Jessica Helfend.
Jarrod Mayes
?-
Born in North Carolina based in Brooklyn, NY. Graphic Designer. Designer at Hyperackt design firm.
- Jarrod Mayes | Hyperackt: Brief “About” page on Hyperackt website about Jarrod Mayes featuring some of his work.
Emmett McBain
1935-2012
. Born and based in Chicago. Graphic Designer & Art Director Co-founder of Burrel McBain Inc., partners with Tom Burrell.
- Emmett McBain: Art Direction as Social Equity: Design Observer, 2017.
Detailing the life and achievements of Emmet McBain and featuring some work. - Emmett McBain | AIGA 2018 Medalist: AIGA, 2018.
A short video by AIGA design displaying some of McBain’s work.
Silas Munro
?
Designer, artist, author, and educator. Partner at Polymode design studio. Curriculum designer of BIPOC Design History.
- Polymode Studio Site: About Polymode design studio and Silas Munro.
Edie Opara
1972-
British-born graphic designer. Graduated from London Graphic Design and Yale University. As of 2010, partner at renowned design firm Pentagram.
- Pentagram | Edie Opara: Pentagram profile of design partner, Eddie Opara.
- Design Lecture Series | Edie Opara: 2018.
Lecture with Saki Mafundikwa, founder and director of Zimbabwe Institute of Digital Arts. - Q&A | Pentagram’s Edie Opara: Adobe Creative Cloud.
Q&A with Adobe Creative Cloud and Opara focusing on the importance of design when it comes to things such as passports. - Creativity Explained – On Color with Edie Opara: Creativity Explained, 2021.
Short lecture about color representation by Opara. - Edie Opara & Tyriq Moore: How Do You Build Knowledge as a Designer?: Design Observer| Connect 4: Design Bridges, 2021.
Podcast with Edie Opara and design student Tariq Moore focusing on building design knowledge.
Sadie Red Wing
? –
From the Spirit Lake Nation of Fort Totten, North Dakota. Lakota graphic designer and advocate. Graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts and North Carolina State University.
- Sadie Red Wing Site: Sadie Red Wing’s website features her mission and some works.
- AIGA Emmerge | Interview: Sadie Red Wing: 2018.
- Sadie Red Wing | F* The Stereotype: Revitalizing Indigenous Perspective in Design: Design Plus Diversity, 2019.
Sadie Red Wing speaks at the 2019 Design + Diversity conference
Kelly Walters
?-
American Artist, designer, educator, researcher, and founder of Bright Polka Dot. Graduated from Rhode Island School of Design. Assistant Professor of Communications Design at Parsons University.
- Bright Polka Dot Site: Bright Polka Dot design studio’s website. Studio founded by Walters.
- The Design of Business | The Business of Design – Kelly Walters: 2020.
Podcast The Business of Design/The Business of Design featuring Kelly Walters. - The Latnix Project: 2021.
Excerpt from “Black, Brown and Latnix Design Educators” by Kelly Walters – a collection of twelve personal interviews with graphic design educators of color. This excerpt is an interview with Jennifer Rittner, writer educator and communications strategist.