Capstone Project
Braided legacy
Hair is one of the most powerful carriers of cultural memory in African and Afro-Caribbean communities holding histories of identity, resistance, and creativity. From Ghanaian braiding patterns to Black American natural-hair movements, these practices function as visual archives passed down through generations. This project would explore hair as a living legacy that has survived colonization, migration, and assimilation, while also being contested, policed, and reclaimed.
MEDIUMS
Physical Artifact: A printed visual atlas documenting braiding patterns, their origins, symbolism, and modern reinterpretations.
Interactive Media: A digital interface where users “trace” patterns with their finger and learn the story behind each design.
Editorial
Rooted Resistance is an editorial exploring the history, culture, and evolution of Black hair and braiding traditions across the African diaspora. From ancient African societies to the transatlantic slave trade, braids have carried meanings far beyond style—serving as symbols of identity, resistance, survival, and community. The editorial examines how enslaved Africans preserved cultural traditions through hair practices and how oral histories describe cornrows being used to communicate escape routes and hidden messages during slavery.
Through historical research, data visualization, photography, and contemporary perspectives, the project traces the transformation of braids from ancestral practice to global cultural influence. It also explores the rise of the natural hair movement, the economic power of the Black haircare industry, and the continued importance of protective hairstyles in modern society.
Website
Braided Legacy is an interactive timeline website that explores the history, cultural significance, and evolution of braiding across generations. Beginning in ancient African civilizations and continuing into the modern day, the website traces how braids have functioned as symbols of identity, resistance, community, creativity, and self-expression.
Through visual storytelling, historical research, and interactive design, users can explore four major eras of braiding history—from sacred cultural traditions and survival during slavery to the rise of Black pride movements and the global influence of braids today.
Editorial Page
Braided mannequin
