Ace Hotel New Orleans

Queens of New Orleans

‍"These are the living, breathing queens who resonated with the creative youth in our design studio in the month of October, the year 2016, on the corner of Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard and Terpsichore Street.

Some you know; they have earned a public title of 'Queen.' Many are mothers, caretakers, advocates, mighty and too often minimized roles traditionally held by women in our society. We celebrate them and a future where women, girls, and all who identify in between have all the power and choice they desire."

Developed in partnership with the Ace Hotel New Orleans, the 2017 Queens of New Orleans Calendar was a celebration of the women who shape the city's culture, neighborhoods, and collective identity. The project was created alongside the young designers of YEP Design Works, blending mentorship, storytelling, illustration, and publication design into a community-centered creative collaboration.

As Design Mentor and Art Director, I co-led the creative direction of the project, guiding youth apprentices through concept development, design exploration, and production. Together, we created a publication that honored influential women of New Orleans while providing emerging designers with real-world experience contributing to a widely distributed cultural project.

The calendar was featured in every suite at Ace Hotel New Orleans and quickly became a sought-after item among guests, residents, and supporters. Demand exceeded expectations, resulting in two sold-out print runs and extending the project's reach far beyond its original audience.

More than a promotional piece, the calendar became a platform for youth voices, local storytelling, and community celebration, capturing a moment in New Orleans through the lens of the next generation of creatives.

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