New Harlem Gateway Waterfront Initiative Recognized by the Connecticut Art Directors Club for Outstanding Graphic Design of its Branding

August 31, 2021

Who:

The Harlem Gateway Waterfront Initiative is an economic development project designed to transform the award-winning West Harlem Piers at 125th Street into a one-of-a-kind tourist destination and cultural center employing hundreds of local residents.

Recently, the Harlem Gateway Waterfront Initiative’s creative agency of record, Haddad & Partners, submitted several pieces of work for consideration to the Connecticut Art Directors Club awards team. They earned a Silver Award for their work for the Harlem Gateway Waterfront Initiative’s branding and logo system.

What:

Silver Award for Graphic Design Print – Logo Systems/Branding Guidelines

The Connecticut Art Directors Club (CADC) is widely known for its Annual Awards Show. For the past 44 years, the competition has welcomed creatives from across Connecticut, serving to both celebrate and motivate local creativity. The Annual Awards Show honors excellence in 8 main categories: advertising, environmental design, graphic design, illustration, online/interactive, photography, student, and video.

The Harlem Gateway Waterfront Initiative’s identity system was built on the typeface Afronik, created by type designer Tapiwanashe Sebastian Garikayi. The logo system’s clean lines were derived from historic African patterns and illustration. The vibrant color palette of the brand identity was inspired by the sights of Harlem itself—from the neon marquee of the Apollo Theater to the waterfront, and every street-art adorned wall in between.

More:

The Harlem Gateway Waterfront Initiative will create an internationally recognized focal point in Harlem that celebrates multiculturalism. Cutting-edge digital technology will be incorporated to help recognize the contributions of people of color to the maritime world and the community itself.

View the award-winning work here!