2024 State of Black America
BACKGROUND
The National Urban League’s 2024 State of Black America, titled The Civil Rights Act of 1964: 60 Years Later, examines the landmark law and how it has been attacked throughout the decades but ultimately still stands as a bedrock of legislation.
For the cover and the graphics, we wanted to follow the tone that was set in the previous year’s report: using a mix of illustrative and photographic elements that were bold, conceptual and symbolic. Showing both the strength and the precarity of the Civil Rights Act—as it is constantly being attacked by legislators—was an important requirement.
The first seven titles of the act are shown as the wobbly-but-mostly-upright columns of the Supreme Court building. Pairing the graphics with the bold red and black of the National Urban League brand, and typefaces that echo the 1960s, we created a cover that easily fits in with the style of the previous report while being striking on its own.
(Work done at Untuck with John & Amy Saal; interior spreads designed by Julia Orthey)
I always like to start with initial sketches to clear out the obvious approaches and make way for different interpretations and ways to use symbolism.
While the idea of the Supreme Court being made up of the wobbly books was ultimately what was presented, I was also really drawn to the idea of a gavel masquerading as a pickaxe (shown via its shadow).
Interior spreads designed by Julia Orthey.