Set in 1960s Florida, the powerful documentary “TRIUMPH: Tampa’s Untold Chapter in the Civil Rights Movement” tells the story of the courageous group of Black high school students who organized peaceful sit-ins at a downtown lunch counter. Sparking a wave of change across the city, their actions grew into a movement that opened restaurants, theaters, pools, and beaches to all. Through firsthand accounts and historical footage, the film brings to life the voices of ordinary people who transformed their community—and helped reshape a nation.
TRIUMPH
One of WEDU PBS’ most recent original productions, from director/producer Danny Bruno, TRIUMPH: Tampa’s Untold Chapter in the Civil Rights Movement premiered in December 2025.
In the preceding months, I created the logos, branding, graphics, and promotions for the film. I also worked on the event design for the sold-out premiere at the historic (and absolutely beautiful!) Tampa Theatre, as well as the exclusive VIP cocktail reception before it.
Branding
Design brief / mood boards from Production team
For branding and logos, I worked with the Executive Producer of WEDU PBS. She provided me with a brief, including some example photos and graphics, as well as font and color palette inspiration. Here are the mood board and notes from the team.
Research and logo trials
I did a fair amount of research on actual protest/activist signs from the Civil Rights Movement. I eventually came across a typeface called Bayard—named after Bayard Rustin, an activist in the movement and the primary organizer of the 1963 March On Washington For Jobs and Freedom.
The typeface is based directly on the signs from that march. The two different weights/fonts result from the uppercase and lowercase versions of the all-caps font.
And since we were going to need uppercase AND lowercase letters, I supplemented the main display font with Oswald: a sans-serif font with more versatility. I used this typeface for the second half of the subtitle (“in the Civil Rights Movement”).
Style guide
Because the production team had to hire external graphics artists who needed to match my branding, I put together a (very quick) style guide.
Key art
I used one of the photos provided to me by the production team, of the Tampa Woolworth lunch counter featured in the film. To evoke a sense of the past and present, I edited the photo, desaturating the left side and fading it into the color version, of which I increased the vibrance and saturation.
Original photo of the Tampa Woolworth lunch counter
My edited photo, used for the film’s key art
I edited the image further for some promotional assets with the branding colors from the film’s palette
Print assets
Film poster
Every film needs an official film poster; I made this one for display outside Tampa Theatre before the premiere screening of TRIUMPH, as well as posters framed at the WEDU PBS TV station and in the filmmaker’s studio/office.
External publication ads
WEDU placed several ads I designed in local print and digital publications, like these two ads that ran in the Tampa Bay Times, in both Sunday and Wednesday editions.
WEDU Premiere Magazine ads
For the November 2025 issue of WEDU PBS Premiere Magazine, I designed a roughly 2/3-page feature, to advertise the premiere film screening at Tampa Theatre to WEDU’s readership of almost 50,000 members. Then for the December issue, I designed the cover of the magazine as well as a half-page feature for the interior, advertising the broadcast premieres on WEDU’s two main channels.
DVDs for pledge drive
The Development team looks for new ways to drive WEDU membership through pledge drives centered around local/original WEDU content. TRIUMPH was no stranger to this marketing strategy, and I was tasked with designing the DVD case insert and disc label.
Promotional bookmarks
I designed a double-sided 6″x2″ bookmark. WEDU printed several thousands and provided them to guests at the premiere screening, to share with friends and spread awareness of the film.
Keepsake notebook/journals
As a commemorative keepsake to take home along with other ‘swag’ at the VIP cocktail reception, I ordered leather journals with my film logo embossed in the cover.
Commemorative buttons
WEDU invited the surviving members of the sit-in group as honored VIPs to the premiere screening, and to the cocktail reception beforehand. I designed buttons to honor their activism and status as honored guests.
Event signage
To thank the many generous donors and patrons of TRIUMPH, I designed a retractable banner with all of their names for recognition. Pop-up banners were displayed at both the VIP reception, and the film screening at Tampa Theatre that followed.
Slides for premiere screening
While patrons and guests were filing into the theatre, I had a series of slides looping on the big screen to welcome viewers and recognize supporters of the film.
