Reap What You Sow is a design concept for a three-act concert featuring Vince Staples and supporting acts Kid Cudi and Flying Lotus.
The brief required a poster design, a merch design, and album art for a vinyl press of the live concert recording.
Vince Staples is…
UNAPOLOGETIC
Vince Staples publicly responded to criticism of his album Big Fish (2012) by releasing a tongue-in-cheek video challenging the public: raise $2 million and he would quit his music career forever. He went on to release four more studio albums.
Introspective
Staples’ discography delves deep into the trauma inflicted on himself and his community by gang violence. He does not hide his disillusionment with the systems that oppress his community nor the deep scars they’ve left on his soul.
Unflinching
Staples’ music serves a journalistic perspective on the black experience. He does not promise healing or catharsis. He documents the quieter costs of endurance and survival so that the listener can feel less alone in carrying their own damage.
InspirationS
RIVERISWILD
A clothing brand inspired by native Nigerian fashion and culture, RIVERISWILD uses repetition, color saturation, and gritty textures to tap into a hopeful and proud afrofuturism I drew from heavily.
Afrofuturism
A philosophy envisioning black futures that stem from Afro-diasporic experiences, most commonly associated with science fiction. The name of this concert is a nod to the critically acclaimed afrofuturist novel The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.
Retro Digital
The three artists in this concert have all embraced electronic sounds in their discography. This led me to lean towards electronic visual elements, specifically a retro version of them. Cultural nostalgia is on the verge of reviving this era, so it felt timely to tap into.
moodboard
Limited Edition Vinyl
Remixing elements from the concert poster into the vinyl album cover. The protective sleeve incorporates the heart image, referencing the weight of emotion contained inside.