In this collaborative project centered on the work of Margaret Bonds, graphic design and music students partnered to merge visual design with live performance into a unified creative experience. I worked closely with a vocalist to ensure that the visual elements aligned with the emotional tone and expressive qualities of the piece. Drawing from Countee Cullen’s poem “A Brown Girl Dead,” as set to music by Bonds, I developed imagery that visually interpreted the narrative and mood of the performance. By translating the performer’s vocal expression into cohesive visual storytelling, the project created a seamless connection between sound and image, enhancing the audience’s emotional engagement.
Margaret Bonds
Design Category
ENTERTAINMENT/EXPERIMENTAL
Margaret Bonds History
Margaret Bonds was a 20th-century American composer, pianist, and arranger
Known for blending classical music with African American spirituals, poetry, and jazz influences
Born in 1913 in Chicago and raised in a culturally rich musical environment
Studied piano and composition, including training at Northwestern University
One of the first Black women to gain national recognition as a composer in the U.S.
Famous for collaborations with poet Langston Hughes, setting his poetry to music
Composed art songs, orchestral works, choral pieces, and vocal music
Helped bring African American musical traditions into classical music spaces
Created The Ballad of the Brown King, a major cantata highlighting Black historical figures
Broke barriers in classical music as a Black woman composer
Legacy is known for emotional depth, cultural impact, and representation in American classical music
Lyrics
Mood Board
