The Informer  hired Soul Therapy Media to design an inspiring celebration that honored the media company's 60 year legacy, along with six family owned businesses that have made a powerful impact in the DC community—some for almost 100 years. Hosted by Washington Informer  publisher, Denise Rolark Barnes, the event included a panel with the business leaders from Ben's Chili Bowl, Industrial Bank, Lee's Flowers, Chuck Levin's, The William O. Lockridge Foundation and Lofton Taylors. NBC4 News Anchor, Molette Green was a dynamic moderator.

All photos from Informer Gala courtesy of Kea Dupree Photography

Every detail was intentionally designed by our team to celebrate the legacy of the Informer, including incorporating images from the paper's photo archives throughout the event space.

We custom designed the awards given to the honorees to showcase excellence, culture and legacy.

Event signage and decor designed by our team

Guests enjoying the music and ambiance of the gala. Lighting design by Summit Lighting.

Detail shot of the event program and decor designed by Soul Therapy Media

Roy Lewis, the Informer's longest-standing photographer, poses in front of his photo in the "Visual Legacy" Photo Exhibit which we designed to showcase the organization's depth of history, community and culture.

Lester Davis of CareFirst, one of the gala's sponsors, speaks to guests at the celebration

Mistress of Ceremonies, Micheline Bowman, keeps the audience entertained.

Crispus Gordon, III, Vice President at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, one of the gala's sponsors, speaks to guests while enjoying the "Visual Legacy" Photo Exhibit.

Guests tour the "Visual Legacy" Photo Exhibit designed by Soul Therapy Media.

Guests tour the "Visual Legacy" Photo Exhibit designed by Soul Therapy Media.

A shot of the Legacy section in the "Visual Legacy" Photo Exhibit

The powerful introductory panel designed for the Informer's "Visual Legacy" Photo Exhibit. Balloon art installation created by Moments By Mick.

Guests enjoy the "Visual Legacy" photo exhibit designed by Soul Therapy Media.

Guests enjoy the "Visual Legacy" Photo Exhibit designed by Soul Therapy Media.

A shot of the Vision section in the "Visual Legacy" Photo Exhibit

The Moments that Defined DC Timeline in the "Visual Legacy" Photo Exhibit

The honorees, host and moderator during the Legacy Awards panel discussion

NBC4 News Anchor, Molette Green, interviews Washington Informer publisher, Denise Rolark Barnes, about what legacy means to her.

Mistress of Ceremonies, Micheline Bowman of Bowman Media Group, welcomes the audience.

African dance and drumming bring excitement, energy and culture to the evening's program

The legacy honorees with the MC, moderator and host of the gala

NBC4 News Anchor, Molette Green, poses with Informer publisher, Denise Rolark Barnes

Guests enjoy delectable food tied to DC's cultural heritage catered by Lawson Street Group

The auditorium in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library is ready for guests

The Legacy Award panel engages in an inspiring discussion on legacy, family and community

Event program and guest Thank You card designed by Soul Therapy Media

The introductory panel to the Informer's "Visual Legacy" Photo Exhibit co-sponsored by CareFirst and Events DC

A world-renowned author, speaker, spiritual teacher, and television personality/producer on the Oprah Winfrey Network, Iyanla Vanzant launched MasterPeace Body Therapy to provide luxury bath and body products to help people cleanse their bodies while clearing their energy. Our team was hired to rebrand the company, grow sales (more than 600% in one year), design and launch a new e-commerce website, redesign and launch new packaging, art direct a photo shoot, develop the marketing strategy, implement a product launch PR campaign, and assist with developing new products. 

A world-renowned author, speaker, spiritual teacher, and television personality/producer on the Oprah Winfrey Network, Iyanla Vanzant launched MasterPeace Body Therapy to offer luxury bath and body  to help people cleanse their bodies while clearing their energy. Our team rebranded the company and developed a holistic marketing strategy rooted in wellness, resulting in a sales increase of over 600% in just one year.

Photo from new product photo shoot.

New e-commerce website our team designed to streamline fulfillment and grow sales

Holiday marketing campaign or team developed to grow brand awareness and product sales

Community Wellness Ventures is a for-profit social impact company with an innovative healthcare model that brings together essential services under one roof to promote effective, lasting transformation in the most vulnerable communities. We refreshed the organization’s brand, created re-branded collateral, designed and launched their new website, and updated the messaging to ensure the language represented the growth of the organization and the impact it has on the community.

New business cards developing for the organization's rebranding

New website designed and developed by our team to better showcase the organization's services and impact

New brochure designed, written and developed by our team to better showcase the organization's services and impact

Holly Ashley & Associates is a psychotherapy practice rooted in wellness and cultural understanding, specializing in compassionate mental health care for African American individuals, couples, and families. We created a bold, relatable brand that reflects their mission to provide safe, stigma-free spaces for healing—where clients feel seen, heard, and supported. This project focused on a visual identity and messaging that honors cultural nuance while inviting a wider audience to experience therapy that truly connects.

Turner Construction, a $10B+ industry leader, partnered with us to elevate its Diversity & Inclusion efforts. We redesigned their D&I intranet, developed an employee-centered publication, and created a cultural events calendar—tools that boosted internal engagement, supported business development, and helped leadership clearly communicate the impact of diversity on the company’s success.

The Charles County Public Library partnered with us to create a brand that reflects its growth, inclusivity, and impact. Through research and collaboration, we developed a dynamic identity that captures the library’s mission, values, and role as a unifying, forward-moving force in the community.

New brand identity developed for the client to better reflects its growth, inclusivity, and impact in the region. 

Cushman & Wakefield tapped our team to design an engaging, interactive experience highlighting their Design Thinking Challenge with Project Osmosis. We created a dynamic booth using sustainable materials and immersive video to showcase their collaboration with top brands—and their commitment to innovation, diversity, and ESG goals.

We were honored to design the “Act Like A Success Store” and merchandise for Steve Harvey’s annual conference. From exhibit displays and apparel to affirmation cards and the JUMP Journal, we created impactful brand extensions that inspired attendees and generated a new revenue stream for the Act Like A Success brand.

We led the creative direction and development of the Freedom House Museum, overseeing everything from preservation and construction to illustration, interactive design, photography, and exhibits. Centered on the history of Alexandria’s domestic slave trade, the museum’s powerful storytelling and visual experience elevated the Northern Virginia Urban League’s presence while amplifying its mission of empowerment and change.

Motion-sensored video is integrated into this recreation of a scene in the basement of the building where enslaved people were held before being sent down South.

The Freedom House Museum in Alexandria is a national historic landmark.

Exhibits and recreation of a scene in the basement of the building where enslaved people were held before being sent down South

We designed and produced the National Urban League’s Centennial Empowerment Exhibit—an immersive, 4,000+ square foot experience unveiled at the organization’s 100th Anniversary conference. Featuring over 25 HD screens, interactive displays, and powerful storytelling, the exhibit brought the Urban League’s history and vision to life, leaving a lasting emotional impact and deepening engagement with its mission.

A young attendee engages with the interactive Graffiti Wall with a Purpose in the exhibit

We designed and produced the National Urban League’s Centennial Empowerment Exhibit—an immersive, 4,000+ square foot experience unveiled at the organization’s 100th Anniversary conference. Featuring over 25 HD screens, interactive displays, and powerful storytelling, the exhibit brought the Urban League’s history and vision to life, leaving a lasting emotional impact and deepening engagement with its mission.

The University of the District of Columbia hired us to revitalize its image and attract new students. Through strategic communications, fresh content, bold design, and dynamic imagery, we created a cohesive suite of materials that celebrate the University’s rich history, vibrant culture, and commitment to opportunity and advancement.

The University of the District of Columbia hired us to revitalize its image and attract new students. Through strategic communications, fresh content, bold design, and dynamic imagery, we created a cohesive suite of materials that celebrate the University’s rich history, vibrant culture, and commitment to opportunity and advancement.

Creative Grounds DC blends art, community, and coffee in one innovative space. We helped define the brand’s personality, create its visual identity, and design merchandise, signage, and a website. Our crowdfunding campaign raised $12,430 in just five weeks.

Brand identity 

The owner and her mother celebrating the opening of the unique café and art space

Symphonic Strategies helps individuals and organizations achieve their goals, focusing on collective action and social movements. We developed the branding, brochure, stationery, and illustrated icons for their new online service, offering accessible resources and best practices.

Dr. Gina Paige, co-founder of African Ancestry, helps over 1 million people trace their African roots. We partnered with her to enhance her personal brand as a thought leader on DNA testing, culture, and identity, developing a brand strategy, dynamic logo, and interactive website that reflect her mission of empowering individuals to connect with their heritage and embrace wellness through understanding their DNA.