THE FILLMORE: THREE ICONS
Adobe Illustrator
Spring 2021
Visual Communication
These icons pay tribute to early San Francisco jazz artists and acknowledge the hardships faced by Black musicians. Through my research, I discovered that when jazz first appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, it was often enclosed in quotation marks, described as “obscene, indecent, and demoralizing.”
Today, jazz is celebrated as an essential part of San Francisco’s history and culture. However, it’s important to remember the hostility and lack of acceptance that once surrounded the genre and its artists. As an homage to this history, I subtly incorporated quotation marks into the designs, such as in the ears and necklace of the left icon. These illustrations are designed to be versatile and suitable for various scales and contexts, including buttons, stickers, brochures, and signage.