The 2nd Annual Chinatown Solidarity Conference

Purpose

In collaboration with 🔗 Welcome to Chinatown 🔗 for the 2nd Annual North American Chinatown Solidarity Conference. My goal is to reflect the spirit of New York's Chinatown and emphasize the event’s role in cultural development and connection.

Responsibility

  • Logo Design

  • Motion illustration

Credits

  • Welcome to Chinatown

    Harry Trinh, Creative Director

The 1st Chinatown Solidarity Conference

The 1st Chinatown Solidarity Conference Logo

History

The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation led the First North America Chinatown Solidarity Conference in Vancouver, marking the beginning of a significant movement to unite Chinatowns across the U.S. and Canada. The goal was to address shared challenges and explore new opportunities through collaboration.

Building on this foundation, Welcome to Chinatown hosted the 2nd Annual Chinatown Solidarity Conference in New York City. The event aimed to deepen collective impact and develop actionable strategies to ensure that Chinatowns remain vital, resilient, and vibrant for future generations.

Goal

The original logo was inspired by traditional Chinese gates, incorporating key elements that represent Chinese and Asian culture. This year’s goal is to build upon last year's logo, creating an updated version that better aligns with the vibrant atmosphere of New York City.

Question

  • How can we reflect the unique atmosphere of New York's Chinatown in the logo design?

  • How can we ensure the new logo maintains a connection to the 1st Logo of Chinatown Solidarity Conference design?

Research

In a conversation with Harry, I learned about the unique history and architectural blend of Manhattan’s Chinatown. The architecture largely follows the style of tenement buildings—typically 4-6 story walk-ups with smaller apartments and commercial spaces at the street level. After observing, I took some photos that I found interesting.

Compared to Chinatowns in San Francisco, Washington DC, and Philadelphia, Manhattan’s Chinatown has a stronger fusion of Chinese and Western cultures, particularly in the blend of Art Deco and traditional Chinese architecture.

During my research, two things also stood out: the street signs are marked in Chinese, and the distinct pagoda-style street lamps, first installed in the 1960s-70s, still dot the neighborhood, adding to its unique character.

Process

Content

1. Chinatown Architecture, a fusion of traditional and modern architecture

2. The top floor of the temple, and the bottom floor of the building

Content

1. Neon signboard

2. Food Element, Roast Duck, Dim Sum, Noodles, Chopsticks

Content

1. Chinatown Store Signs

2. Lanterns, light red and yellowish lanterns, and the escape stairs

Content

1. Streetlights in Chinatown

2. Elements of various street signs in New York

Final Version

Final

In the final design, we incorporated elements of New York's street signs and distinctive pagoda-style street lamps. This design represents how New York's Chinatown continues to evolve with the times while preserving its core cultural essence in new and meaningful ways.

The inclusion of pigeons, a symbol of New York's energy and vitality, adds a lively dynamic to the design, representing the ever-present vibrancy of the city.