A Beginning

My name is Thabiso Mhlaba. I am a senior at the University of Michigan Stamps School of Art and Design. As part of my BFA program I must complete a project known as the Integrative Project. Like the name suggests, the project is a one year project in which students use the resources and skills they have acquired throughout their years of schooling to create a single cohesive project.

My project is founded in my illustration background. I am creating a series of illustrations as well as a book based on a self generated science fiction story. My focus is on visual design for entertainment as well as story-telling. Using experiences from my own life as well as research from pop sci-fi and afro-futurist themes I will tell a story that encourages my audience to think about race, culture, and ethnicity. Most importantly I want them to examine how they identify themselves and whether or not the aspects they consider to be crucial to this identity are anything more than social constructs.

I begin by showing my work space as well as a picture of me! Enjoy.