MINI-PROJECTS
Visual Design: Typography and Color  
VINCE. Netflix Show  (Poster Concepts & Trailer Script)
Visual Design: Avant-Garde and Conceptual
ChanceGPT (GitHub Source Code Provided)
Blockbuster Rebranding & Relaunch Concept
Conceptual Photoshoots
Runway Fashion Design
Ergonomic Jewelry Saw - 3D CAD  Model
Animated 3D CAD Model
NAME POSTERS
SKILLS: GRAPHIC DESIGN, COLOR & TYPOGRAPHY






VINCE.
SKILLS: GRAPHIC DESIGN, BRAND DESIGN, SCRIPT-WRITING


Vince Staples is one of my favorite artists in music, and not just because we share the same last name. I think many times when making and consuming art, it’s easy to become lost in the noise. There’s noise within our own clouded judgment and self-critique, coupled with the fear of vulnerability and originality. To me, Vince is the antithesis of that noise, an embodiment of what it means to unapologetically create without a speck of remorse.


I eventually began working on poster concept ideas, modeling the visual aesthetic after the dystopian vibe that many of his music videos contain. I wanted to stick with the red, white, and blue colors for a few reasons. Those who know Vince’s work and his background can undoubtedly attest to the political commentary that seamlessly weaves its way into his art. And beyond that, these also happen to be the colors most associated with gang violence, a part of Vince Staples’ upbringing in Long Beach that is crucial to understanding his community and identity.



                 

             

With this aspect of his life in mind, I also began writing a script that I felt encapsulated all of these elements. I envision his show being somewhat of a dystopian vibe (similar to Donald Glover’s Atlanta but with a more cohesive, linear plotline throughout all episodes), with psychologically jarring camera shots and concepts. Those who are familiar with his personality know how unfiltered he can be, so my original version was also a lot more explicit. But, I had to pull back a little on that aspect of it in the meantime so that I didn’t cloud the communication of the concept. A copy of the snippet script that I wrote can be found by clicking this -> link.


I hope that one day I get the opportunity to work with Vince, as well as other artists who have given me the confidence to feel comfortable in who I am and what I create. His story is the story of millions of Black youth all around the country. And just like he’s done for me, I hope to create work in the future that inspires youth to unabashedly be themselves and see beyond their current circumstances.
BON.
         

SKILLS: GRAPHIC DESIGN, CURATION

The BON. Collection was a visual poster project that constantly evolved as I continued to work with it. My vision for the collection initially began as a series of food-related posters, with a minimalistic aesthetic. The word ‘bon’ initially was a short way of communicating the French phrase ‘bon appetite’. As I began to work with the idea a bit more, I started to really think more about what the word ‘bon’ truly means. I learned that the word translates to ‘good’ or ‘right’ in English, and after realizing this is when the project began to take a life of its own.





My love for history initially led me to center the project around historical figures who have been a part of bringing good to the world, even with the odds stacked against them. As I started to have more fun with it, I began playing around with the concept even more. The more I experimented, the more absurd, yet refined I felt the posters became. I began to focus less on making the posters look ‘professional’ and became lost in the story I was telling. In the back of my head, I kept thinking about the Biblical story of our Earth’s creation; after each day of creation, God looked back on what was made and felt that ‘it was good.’ The idea behind this story is what propelled the project further as I fought through my own unhealthy standards of perfectionism. I figured if a God didn’t cling to perfectionism, why should I?


The BON. Collection ended up being a series of visual posters that communicate a few different messages. In the midst of hate and fear, good has to be sought out in order to make meaningful change. Good can be found in both the mundane and the absurd. And when perfectionism cripples our ability to create, our imperfect nature as humans in a world that was perfectly designed for us is a natural quality that should oftentimes be embraced.
BLOCKBUSTER
SKILLS: GRAPHIC DESIGN, BRAND DESIGN




       


With this project, I envisioned what it would look like if Blockbuster attempted to make a comeback. I mainly focused on providing an idea
of what an initial campaign re-launch would look like, with a more modern logo and a catchy re-lauch slogan.

As a kid, some of my core memories are going into Blockbuster and renting movies to watch with my family. With advent of streaming services and the decline of brick and mortar movie stores, I feel that the role that Blockbuster played in culture has been somewhat undermined.



CHANCE GPT
SKILLS: AI Computer Programming (Javascript, CSS), API Integration

A fortune-telling Web App built on OpenAI’s GPT API.

Link to Github Repository: https://github.com/ChanceS22-wq/fortune-teller-app


Computer Mockup
Sample Response
3D ERGONOMIC JEWELRY SAW
SKILLS: A/B Testing, Sketching, Prototyping, User Interviews, CAD AUTODESK


 


As a part of a group final project for Design 141: Product Design Methods, my team and I were asked to redesign a physical tool using an ergonomic approach. After brainstorming a variety of different tools, we decided to create an ergonomic jewelry saw handle. The main issue we wanted to tackle in this redesign was the amount of force and tension that was applied to the wrist. This redesign process took hours of going through sketches, user testing, feedback, and iterating on concepts. After coming to our final design, we then each individually went into Autodesk and created 3D CAD models of the final product. Playing with different materials, I decided on making my jewelry saw primarily out of aluminum, with finishing touches in chrome metal. I chose to make it primarily out of aluminum because it’s lightweight, inexpensive, durable, and environmentally sustainable. And, I felt that adding chrome metal at the location of the finger grips would add physical security and safety when handling the saw. My main takeaway from this project was the importance of teamwork, iteration, intentionality, and persistence when it comes to designing a product, especially a product that is supposed to make life easier.


A picture from the user testing process. All models were tested and pictures were annotated to better undertand pressure points of each model. 
A foam model of my initial triangle sketch.
My own initial sketches for the saw.
Final chosen model after sanding it. 
The final two foam models were chosen based on our user testing and feedback via surveys.
Going into Autodesk and creating a 3D CAD model of the final design.  
Final.
2024 STANFORD FASHION X RUNWAY    
                                                                                   

SKILLS: TEXTILE MAKING, FASHION DESIGN

After so much time wondering what it would be like to design and create my own fashion garment, I decided to finally create a fashion piece for the first time. Not only that, but for some reason I decided to create my first ever piece for the Stanford FashionX Runway held in Memorial Church. I was so afraid to create something that would be on display for thousands of people, but I felt that this was the sort of leap of faith that I needed to take in order to test my love for fashion. And further, I wanted to show my family how serious I was about my passion for creative endeavors. I learned from one of my favorite artists Mac Miller that oftentimes great things exist on the other side of fear, so fear is something that should be embraced rather than rejected. With a million ideas in my head of how I wanted to go about my first piece, I gradually began crafting the story I wanted to tell through the fabric.  

I ultimately ended up creating a dress that was made of thick, heavy denim from upcycled denim vests and a pair of overalls. This material ended up representing strength, with denim being one of the strongest materials that there is. For the mask, I was able to get my hands on a mask that had spiked metal studs all over it. The metal studs felt perfect for communicating the defense aspect of identity that we as humans tend to do. I feel that whenever our identity feels threatened, we try to find ways to defend it so as to protect our own egos. In the end, the medium of fabric and textiles were crucial to the message that I wanted to communicate.



Started with two denim vests
Layered them so that their gaps complimented each other
Me trying geting a feel for the vibe I was going for with the skirt piece
Me and Kenny before showtime. 
After sewing the vests together, I wore it on top of the overalls to again get a vibe for how it’d look with top of the overalls attached to it.
My model, Kenny, trying on the metal-studded mask. 
Kenny in action on the runway. 


Because I was learning how to sew as I was creating this piece, I let my mistakes guide my process. Whenever there was an idea that I couldn’t get to work, I would use those limitations to guide me creatively. Clinging onto the fickle idea of perfection did nothing but slow down my creative process. So after some time, I began viewing this being my first sewing experience as being a point of strength rather than a point of weakness. Not that this served as an excuse in the event that my outfit didn’t go as planned, but it gave me the freedom to fail. The exploration through mistakes and limitations was crucial to creating my garment as a first time sewer.



PHOTOSHOOTS  

 
                                   
           

CREATIVE DIRECTION, PHOTOGRAPHY, STYLING & MODELING BY CHANCE STAPLES