Motion Graphics - USCBAA - Afro Ball 2024

USC BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

MOTION GRAPHICS

BRAND IDENTITY - EVENT

Project Objective: Develop a cohesive Wakanda-inspired visual identity and motion graphics piece for an annual high-profile higher education fundraising gala

Role: Lead Visual Designer & Motion Graphics Animator

Intended Audience: USC alumni, university leadership, honored guests, and gala attendees (300+ audience)

Software & Tools: Adobe After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop

Brand & Design Considerations: Reinterpreted official USC institutional brand guidelines through an Afrofuturist visual theme, incorporating custom geometric structures and modern typography

Accessibility & Production Considerations: Engineered high-contrast visual assets and motion sequences optimized for large-scale stage LED screen displays and ambient event lighting conditions

Project Description: As lead designer, I was recommissioned to visualize and execute the complete print, digital, and motion graphics identity for the University of Southern California Black Alumni Association’s annual scholarship gala. Hosted at the iconic Avalon Hollywood, the high-profile benefit brought together university leadership, alumni, and distinguished guests, including honored College Football Hall of Fame inductee Reggie Bush.

The core creative challenge was to reinterpret USC’s official brand palette through a Wakanda-inspired Afrofuturist lens. I designed a cohesive visual system built on hexagonal geometry, world-building typography, and layered technological effects, striking a seamless balance between Afrocentric cultural motifs and institutional brand standards. Utilizing Adobe After Effects, Illustrator, and Photoshop, I produced stage-scale animated motion graphics that played center-stage to over 300 attendees, delivering an immersive visual experience that elevated the evening's fundraising mission.