Black Design Guild
Retreat Identity & Experience Design
Layout design | Event collateral design | Large format design
Overview
Black Design Guild is a leadership and coaching programme created by Hello Brave to support Black researchers and designers in progressing from junior to mid and senior roles.
The inaugural programme took the form of a three-day retreat, designed as a pilot to test the format, gather feedback, and shape future iterations. The visual identity needed to establish credibility while creating a sense of community and belonging for attendees.
The Challenge
As a first-time activation, the retreat required a clear and confident visual presence despite still being in a prototype phase.
The design needed to:
• Feel considered and trustworthy, reflecting the programme’s long-term
ambitions
• Create a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for participants
• Feel considered and trustworthy, reflecting the programme’s long-term
ambitions
• Create a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for participants
• Be flexible and reusable for future cohorts as the programme evolved
The key balance to achieve was:
Presenting an early-stage programme with clarity and credibility, while remaining adaptable for future growth.
Presenting an early-stage programme with clarity and credibility, while remaining adaptable for future growth.
Approach
For the brand, I developed an initial identity system designed to balance structure and openness. I created a wordmark with an open shield shape to represent protection, growth, and community. Used a restrained visual language to ensure the identity felt grounded and intentional, rather than over-designed
For the retreat experience, I extended the identity across a set of event materials which included a designed programme guide to support navigation across the three days, combining practical information with reflective prompts. Alongside the programme guide, I also developed supporting collateral to create a cohesive and immersive environment
The system was deliberately kept modular and scalable, allowing it to be reused and adapted for future retreats without losing consistency.
Outcome
The identity and supporting materials helped establish a clear and cohesive presence for the programme’s first iteration.
The design created a sense of structure and reassurance within a new and evolving initiative while supporting the overall experience by providing clarity, guidance, and moments of reflection throughout the retreat.
A flexible foundation was established that could evolve alongside the programme.
This project highlights the role of design in shaping early-stage initiatives, not just visually, but in helping define how they are experienced and understood.
