Rising of Culture
Live event branding for Summit Detroit
Concept
Detroit is not just rebuilding — it is reimagining.
Detroit is a city that has been reborn — a place where reinvention is woven into its DNA. From the assembly lines that revolutionized industry to the beats of Motown that shaped global music, Detroit has always been a birthplace of cultural transformation.
At Summit Detroit, we explore the “Rising of Culture” how innovation, art, music, and urban renewal come together to revitalize communities and redefine identities. Through visionary discussions, immersive experiences, and creative collaborations, we celebrate the power of culture to heal, inspire, and evolve in a city that has done it time and time again.
Client Research
Summit is a community of diverse creators, innovators, and leaders dedicated to fostering positive change in the world. They host a variety of events that bring together professionals from different fields to promote innovative thinking and collaboration.
Summit Detroit draws on the city’s legacy of reinvention. It built a bold, creative spirit that mirrors Summit’s values. The event channels Detroit’s raw energy, blending rhythm, innovation, and vision into a powerful symbol of progress and transformation.
Keywords
Culture Bold Passion
Connection Innovation Resilience
Urban Energy Rhythm Future
Process
This is a live event project co-created with designer Rivai Li. I led the overall concept and visual direction of the event. Drawing inspiration from Detroit's legacy of innovation and the spirit of the Renaissance, I developed the initial theme, "Rebirth of Culture." It symbolizes a city that has faded from the spotlight rising again — revitalized by the creative energy of Summit’s community. Building on the meaning of the word Summit "the top" and its logo featuring two upward-pointing arrows, the concept naturally evolved into the final theme: "Rising of Culture."
These are the earliest design drafts. The core composition and concept were carried through to the final design. Summit’s logo, located in the top left corner, is primarily made up of two arrows— visually conveying an upward momentum. I extracted this visual energy and merged it with geometric elements. By deconstructing the logo into two separate triangles, I created a key visual language for the event. The upward dynamic, inspired by Detroit’s legacy of invention and urban development, reinforces a consistent design philosophy throughout the project.
Building assets from Summit website in Adobe illustrator for better vector graphics quality.
By comparing different layouts and visual focal points, select the design that feels the most visually balanced and comfortable.
Adjust the background imagery to align with the overall design, creating a visual effect of light extending upward from the bottom. At the same time, through discussion, the consistency of the central small triangle was refined and unified.