Project Overview
The 1955 Fellowship Program was established to honor the first Black undergraduate students admitted to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1955 and to create a supportive learning community for future generations of students. I was asked to develop a visual identity that acknowledged this important moment in the University's history while reflecting the program's focus on mentorship, belonging, academic achievement, and community.
The Challenge
The identity needed to balance historical significance with a forward-looking spirit. The program commemorates the courage and perseverance of John Lewis Brandon, LeRoy Frasier, and Ralph Frasier, whose enrollment at Carolina marked a pivotal moment in the University's history.
The visual system needed to:
- Honor the legacy of the first Black undergraduates at UNC
- Create a sense of community and connection
- Feel welcoming and relevant to current students
- Work across print, digital, and promotional applications
- Establish a recognizable identity distinct from, but complementary to, the UNC brand
- Create a sense of community and connection
- Feel welcoming and relevant to current students
- Work across print, digital, and promotional applications
- Establish a recognizable identity distinct from, but complementary to, the UNC brand
Concept Development
Early exploration focused on themes of progress, connection, and shared experience. Sketches investigated ways to incorporate the year 1955, references to pathways and growth, and visual elements that could symbolize fellowship, support, and collective achievement.
Initial concepts explored the relationship between history, community, and student success through a variety of symbolic and typographic approaches.
Initial concepts explored the relationship between history, community, and student success through a variety of symbolic and typographic approaches.
The Solution
The final identity centers on the program's namesake year, creating an immediately recognizable mark while reinforcing the Fellowship's connection to a transformative moment in Carolina's history. The design balances institutional credibility with an approachable, student-focused character that can scale across a wide range of communications and program materials.
The resulting identity provides the Fellowship with a distinct visual presence while honoring the legacy of the students whose courage helped shape a more inclusive future at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Program Website
Learn more about the 1955 Fellowship Program: