INSPIRE OAKLAND – Billboard Design (Top 6 Winner)
This project was created for the Inspire Oakland design competition, where my work was selected as a Top 6 finalist and displayed on a public billboard in Oakland.
I began with an original sketch inspired by Huey P. Newton, seated in his iconic chair. My initial concept focused on strength, resistance, and historical identity.
From there, I developed multiple iterations, introducing repeated fist patterns in Black, brown, and white to represent unity across communities. This pattern became a central visual element, symbolizing collective power and shared struggle.
During the review process, judges felt the original rifle imagery could be interpreted as aggressive or promoting violence. In response, I evolved the concept—replacing the weapon with a cellphone to reflect modern-day expression, activism, and the power of digital voice.
I reinforced the message with phrases like:
• Black Lives Matter
• Stop Asian Hate
• Inspire Oakland
• Black Lives Matter
• Stop Asian Hate
• Inspire Oakland
The final design balances historical influence with contemporary messaging, transforming a symbol of resistance into one of unity, awareness, and cultural progress.
This project challenged me to adapt my vision while maintaining the integrity of the message—resulting in a piece that resonated with both the judges and the community.