Finding the Roots: Art Directing the Legacy Awards

When I was asked to art direct the Legacy Awards, I began the way I always do as an intentional designer: with the brief, and with careful listening. I sat with the desires and wants of the team and the hosts, and then I went deeper. I looked into what they believe and stand for, their philosophy, and what the awards show represented. Questions, then more questions, until I reached a happy place with my deep dive. What does this mean? Why are they doing this? What is the root of this action, this vision, this mission?

Inspiration Is Everywhere

One day, I took a stroll through my grandmother's garden and found the most beautiful hibiscus flower. At that moment I was pregnant, beginning my own journey into legacy, and I began to think about what that word truly meant to me. I took a picture of the flower, which was so much more than a flower. With a horticulturalist grandfather from Jamaica and a widowed grandmother whose garden blossomed while she processed the chaos of starting a whole new life, that flower was a symbol spanning generations, land and sea.

Bringing Flowers to the Centre

It was a casual conversation a year earlier, at the Legacy afterparty with the show's writer, that truly anchored everything. Seemingly simple, casual, and unassuming, she said:

"I just wanted people to receive their flowers now, while they're alive."

I had attended the awards show that year with no realization that the next year I would be art directing it, and no idea that this casual conversation would inform the entire design of the next year's awards. A beautiful sentiment, and it shaped everything that followed.

But which flowers? The year prior, they had handed out roses. Roses did not reflect the culture. The culture called for something unique, bold, and powerful, a complex array of flowers that could hold the symbolism required to represent legacy.

I found three flowers I felt represented the vision:

Alpinia Purpurata symbolises passion, beauty, and vitality. The flower is often used to express intense emotions and to celebrate life.

The Bird of Paradise is known as the ultimate symbol of paradise and freedom. Due to its tropical nature, this flower also symbolises joy.

The Hibiscus is often associated with personal power, fame, and glory.

By this time, you can imagine there was some kind of great vibe going around. Perfect inspiration, and the flowers I picked happened to hold the exact perfect meanings. Then came a delightful surprise. Reviewing video in the studio days before publicizing, I saw a clip from the previous year's awards show, and there on the table were the exact same flowers. Things were flowing. I love a surprise synchronicity. Special thank you to Sara Golish an artist I had never dreamed I'd have the pleasure of working with let alone being a semi painting assistant to who brought the vision to life.

The Key Is Layers

I can't help but apply meaning to everything, to give design some TLC, feeling, and dimension. I always say the key to great anything is layers, and that applies to fashion, baking, design, and anything else you can think of. I even layered our lunch tables with beautiful greenery, because why not? Even a lunch break deserves some beautiful layers.

Just a Happy Lady

Every moment, from pulling wardrobe, accessories, and shoes, to working with all the brilliant staff on set, I can truly say that art directing never feels like work, even at eight months pregnant. With incredible colleagues, crew, photographer (Oshane Howard) marketing, PA's and everyone on set or behind a desk that touched the project from beginning to end, it was a pleasure working with everyone. I hope the art came off warm and inviting, powerful, royal, and proud, worthy of the legacy these gentlemen are honouring and creating. It was a pleasure being a part of this project.

Legacy Lives in Business Too

I want to close with something that might seem like a side note, but to me it sits at the very heart of this story. Legacy is not only what we celebrate on a stage; it is what we practice in our work, in how we build our businesses, and in who we bring along the way.

During the Legacy Awards, I had the pleasure of mentoring two amazing designers. It means everything to me to offer someone the opportunity to walk through a door, to experience, see, listen, and participate. The world can seem scary, but often that is only because we don't have someone to hold our hand as we step into new territory. Too often we have to leap and simply trust ourselves.

Mentors have played the biggest role in my life, and I know I would not be where I am without the people who opened doors for me. So this is my quiet encouragement to anyone in a position to do the same: offer, open doors, and make spaces feel welcoming. That, too, is legacy.