About Our Image
The BlackInNHMs logo, was designed to was designed to capture the breadthbreadth of natural history and the organization’s deeper mission: reclaiming Black relationships to nature, honoring the knowledge of the past, and imagining a more inclusive future in natural history museums and the natural sciences.
Below our artist, Alnycea Blackwell’s, shares the inspiration and symbolism behind the logo’s design.
While developing the BlackInNHMs logo, I kept returning to the challenge of creating a single image that could represent the full scope of natural history museums. Ultimately, it became clear that no symbol was more fitting than Mother Nature herself.
Natural history museums seek to understand, interpret, and share stories of the natural world. She is therefore depicted surrounded by a rich life from birds, insects, snakes, flowers, mammals, mollusks, and other organisms. This reflects the interconnectedness of nature and the breadth of collections often found in natural history museums.
Mother Nature
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Sankofa Bird
The Sankofa bird was included at the request of BlackInNHMs founder, Dr. Adania Flemming. Originating from the Akan people of Ghana, Sankofa is a symbol that encourages us to move forward by drawing wisdom from the past.
Within the logo, the Sankofa reflects BlackInNHMs' commitment to reclaiming Black relationships with nature, natural history, and the natural sciences. It reminds us that understanding our histories, knowledge systems, and experiences can help shape a more informed and empowered future.
Black in Natural History Museums
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Font choice
When it comes to graphics, fonts are the bow that ties everything together. They play a big role in expressing a brand’s identity, and I couldn’t have found a better fit for this organization than the Mama Kilo font. It evokes a sense of connection to hand crafted traditions, storytelling and ways of knowing that existed long before many modern institutional systems. Systems that have sometimes shaped limiting ideas about Black people and their relationship to nature. The font feels like a visual step back to something more natural, open, and connected (qualities that are central to the organization's mission).
Simplified logo
Because detailed artwork does not always translate well across websites, social media platforms, printed materials, and other small-scale applications, a simplified version of the logo was also created.
This version preserves the core identity and symbolism of the original design while improving legibility and visuals across different formats.
Together, these elements reflect the heart of BlackInNHMs: a commitment to honoring the past, celebrating Black relationships with nature, and building a future in which Black people see themselves reflected throughout natural history museums and the natural sciences. The logo serves not only as a visual identity, but also as a reminder of the community, history, and possibilities that inspire our work.