Pittsburgh artist chosen to design Black History Month logo for Yahoo
Sometimes one small thing leads to something bigger.
For Janel Young, a direct message from Verizon Media Shop to help design merchandise such as a water bottle, notebook and weekly planner led to her being the first outside artist asked to create a logo to celebrate Black History Month for Yahoo’s website. Yahoo is owned by Verizon.
“Life is about relationships,” Young said. “Yahoo was familiar with my work. The project manager called me. Black History Month is about tradition and culture and Black joy.”
Young’s logo will be on the site’s Black History Month page through Feb. 28.
The 29-year-old Beltzhoover native who lives on Pittsburgh’s North Side had two weeks to create the design. Young included art from her “Black Girl Magic” series, which focuses on African American hairstyles.
Her work can be viewed through her website and Instagram page.
Young placed one of the images from her series in place of the first “O” in the word Yahoo. In the second “O,” she created a magnifying glass over a gem.
“I wanted to include an image that was representative of my work,” Young said. “People know those characters that I created, to spread joy and love yourself for who you are.”
The magnifying glass over the gem brings to light the traditions and culture of Black people. She included a green tribal pattern as well. You can spot her signature in the right-hand corner.
Young is an artist in residence for the UrbanKind Institute. She utilizes visual arts as a communication tool to connect people to equity and justice values and initiatives.
Young sketched the artwork on her iPad. Most of it is digitally drawn.
“People noticed it before they realized it was my work, and once they did they sent me messages. People also contacted my mom and that made her feel good and me feel good,” Young said. “That made me feel good for my mom. You never know who is going to see your work.”
A Penn State graduate in marketing and international studies, Young worked for a public relations agency in New York City where she used digital media. She returned to her hometown and has collaborated on projects for the city of Pittsburgh, created the Home Court Advantage Project, the city’s first art basketball court.
She recently launched a pin collection for her passion for sneakers with Remy Rouge Culture Center and Pop Pins NYC re: the pin collab.
Young, who recently gave a $1,000 scholarship to a college student who is a filmmaker, said it’s about giving back and continually challenging yourself to try something new, even if it might not pay a lot. The value might be seen later — like when she received a call to be part of an art installation for the United States Tennis Association’s U.S. Open last year.
“I always ask people how they hear about me,” she said. “And they told me they saw a mural I was part of in Brooklyn N.Y. So you just never know when one thing you do will lead to another opportunity.”
You just never know.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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