“I see the site functioning as an open archive, where our cultural memory, wealth of stories, and collective experiences are alive and accessible to everyone” explained Mariana Pariani, a Season One member whose invaluable expertise as a designer and creative director has since guided our visual language.
At the core of Mariana’s design approach for Commissioner is an ethic of care, inspired by the teaching of bell hooks and Robin Wall Kimmerer. Pastel colors and bold typography are intended to create a receptive atmosphere—a soft embrace that cools and warms in the gradient. Drawing inspiration from gardens, libraries, and community spaces that foster connection, commissioner.us was conceptualized to both feel and function like it could embody all of those things: like it could be a springboard for growth, a place for learning, and a catalyst for togetherness.
When asked what areas of the website most stood out to her during the process, Mariana said, “I am a bit enamored of the Commissioned Artists landing page. Seeing all the artists that we have worked with, listed year by year, to see their faces and their names all together, fills me with joy. It speaks to me of the extraordinary power of Commissioner’s collective commissioning model.”
New features include:
- Members can now share and save their favorites to collections in their profile
- Anyone can share stories with ease and across platforms
- An all-new support button for tax-deductible contributions to power new programs including artist coaching and community education
- More about upcoming programs and initiatives like inter[Commissioner], as we expand our model nationally
“I invite you to explore the stories of our community—of your community. I want to imagine visitors smiling, saving stories to their collections, and building the memory of their own communal experience.”
We’re grateful to Pérez Family Foundation’s CREARTE grant for providing dedicated support, and to the many members, collaborators, and friends who participated in the conversations and listening sessions that shaped this project. Much love to Ayar Sava, Veronica Gort, Dave Adams, Adaeze Nwakobi and Phoebe Flowers for their invaluable contributions. Pariani’s master’s thesis project was largely informed by this process, centering memory, storytelling, and community, if interested you can read it here.
Tell us how we’re doing, and what’s working/not working here.