VISUAL WORK • BRANDING • WEB DESIGN • MERCHANDISING • COPYWRITING
The porter club exhibit
CONCEPTUAL PROMPT
The game of Bid Whist spread across the U.S. largely due to the Pullman Porters – African-American men who worked as attendants on Pullman sleeping cars in the 19th and 20th centuries. These men, serving white passengers, were often confined to segregated sections, but during layovers, they gathered to play card games like Bid Whist, which eventually transformed into the spades we know today (Hickmon, 2021).
Spades has always been more than just a game – it’s a tradition in Black communities, especially at family gatherings and social events. It’s about camaraderie, perseverance, and connection – a place to bond, joke, trash-talk, and thrive in the competitive tension, all while building a sense of community through shared experience. By reimagining this tradition into a "legacy club," I’ve created a brand that honors the Porter spirit, capturing their history and the essence of spades with an identity that resonates through its tone, energy, and messaging.
Design a visual identity for a museum exhibition that reflects the legacy and resilience of Porters and the game of spades, appealing to a contemporary audience.
To create a contemporary legacy brand for The Porter Club, I developed a logo suite that combines bold varsity lettering with modern typography, using the "P" as a symbol of strength and leadership. The color palette, vibrant yet refined, evokes impact and joy, with a standout blue that adds an unexpected twist. Drawing from the rich culture of spades, I integrated language and expressions that connect the game’s legacy to today’s audience. Phrases like “running a Boston,” which means outsmarting your opponent, capture the competitive energy at the heart of the game.
the solution narrative
The merchandise design blends streetstyle with contemporary art, creating an exclusive, underground vibe that honors the Porters’ cultural impact, while maintaining an urban sensibility. Through the fusion of spades culture and bold typography the merchandise becomes a distinctive statement of the brand’s identity.
brand merchandise
