Culturally Rooted Event Materials To Empower Black Youth In STEM

OBJECTIVE

The Family STEM Open House at College of the Canyons aimed to spark curiosity and build confidence in young Black students through immersive, hands-on STEM experiences. The event already offers inspiration to Black youth, but organizers recognized the need for a visual identity that honors the event’s cultural significance and connects with attendees on a personal level. Intersect GMD was invited to develop that identity through print-based materials intended to make the experience empowering and memorable, further allowing the event to grow into an annual tradition.

IMPACT

Our work for Family STEM helped create a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere rooted in Black excellence and empowerment. Through signage, stickers, books, and stamps, we delivered a cohesive, culturally resonant design that not only energized the event but also extended beyond it. These printed materials served as meaningful takeaways for the young attendees—items they could bring home, revisit, and use—allowing curiosity and confidence to continue long after the event ended. The design celebrated pioneers like NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, whose calculations helped land Apollo 11 on the moon, and computer engineer Mark Dean, a key developer of the IBM personal computer. By honoring these figures, the design served as lasting reminders of Black brilliance in STEM.

It was an absolute pleasure working with the Intersect students. I was very impressed by their attention to detail. Based on the information I provided for an outreach event design, they came to our first meeting having already done research, which really made it a collaborative process. They listened carefully to my feedback and developed a design that exceeded my expectations. I look forward to working with them again in the future!

Gretchen Stanton, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Chair, Chemistry Department
College of the Canyons