Afri Co Lab
Branding, UX/UI, 2021
Project Overview
Afri Co Lab serves as a vibrant centre for artistic expression, collaboration, and cultural exchange. Embracing the rich Ugandan influence within its founders, brand, and the local community, the hub sought to establish a compelling visual identity that reflects its values of creativity, diversity, and sustainability.
For this project, the goal was to create a visual identity that honoured and reflected Ugandan culture and heritage, celebrating its influence within the community. Sustainability was a key focus, emphasising eco-friendly design practices and materials to showcase our commitment to environmental responsibility. Additionally, the design needed to be versatile and timeless, ensuring it adapted well across different mediums—whether digital, print, or environmental—while remaining relevant for years to come.
The creation of Afri-Co-Lab’s logo was inspired by the history of its two founders and the symbolism found in the colours of the Ugandan flag. The yellow and red represent the sun and village, while the blue and black signify the diaspora and new opportunities, symbolising all together unity. Based on this concept, a vibrant pattern incorporating the initials of the community hub was developed to provide both visitors and locals with a cheerful and inviting welcome to the space and its offerings.
Inspired by the colours of the Ugandan flag and the shapes found in their workshop hub, the icons were designed in a simple and straightforward manner to categorise various topics explored throughout the website. A paper cut-out inspired illustration was inserted in the background of the entrance page to connect the idea of diaspora with the community hub’s current location. Furthermore, following meticulous research at the Tate Museum on Ugandan patterns and their meanings, symbols featuring the country’s fabric patterns were created to act as separators between paragraphs.