I was tasked with creating a collage artwork that represents Nairobi, specifically Electric Avenue. This was my first time doing a detailed artwork and I was excited to have gotten such an opportunity to idolize such a nostalgic era at the pinnacle of Nairobi Nightlife.

DESIGN BREAKDOWN

– I wanted the artwork to be more of a photocopy-sketch of all the iconic places in Westy.  First draft featured overlapping sketches of all the memorable places. Clubs that were along Elec. Ave were to be in red typewriter font and highlighted in black. It was a challenge to myself to limit the artwork to only 3 colours (white, red and black).

– Second draft was more of a logo overload, logos of the iconic spots along Elec. Ave were plastered all over the artwork. I went ahead and increased the sketches like the iconic “mayai” trolley.

– After doing more research and consultations. I abandoned the sketch idea and drew my focus to what made life in Westy fun and memorable. A focal picture and secondary focus elements. The focal picture and point of reference was a bouncer and Elec Ave spots making his face, his mouth belting out “kijana wapi id” (the amount of times I have heard this line) secondary elements, city council (kanjo), mayai trolley, person dancing, billboard, muze logo.

DESIGN ELEMENTS

-Font;  helvetica compressed, typewriter.

-Colour; red, black and white.