4UV is a FAST Channel platform under the A+E brand umbrella dedicated to elevating programming rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion. One such initiative was a programming stunt showcasing a slew of TV shows and movies featuring the trials and tribulations of black musicians in honor of Black Music Appreciation Month. I was commissioned to design and animate this promo spot from the ground up and I established a visual language that was intended to encapsulate the full diaspora of black music beyond stereotypical tropes, heavily utilizing texture, vibrant colors, and African design patterns/shapes to juxtapose the traditional with the new, remixed in something that feels simultaneously modern, classic, and comfortingly familiar overall.

My supremely talented colleague, Allison Kocar assisted in the colossal task of cutting out the subjects from the selected footage based on my proposed design direction and created a brilliantly comprehensive toolkit to help democratize and streamline the process which was an immense help given the complexity of the design and rather ambitious timeline of this project’s delivery. Talk about inclusion and collaboration!

DESIGN Ian S. Foster
ANIMATION Ian S. Foster, Allison Kocar