Northeastern University Student Spotlight – Safa Bilal

Poster triptych showcasing the identity and work of a Northeastern Graphic Design student

This poster triptych was done for one of my classmates, Safa Yasmeen Bilal. She is also a design major with a passion for incorporating her Pakistani heritage into fashion and illustration. She is also active on TikTok and Instagram, where she has amassed over 20,000 followers and regularly advocates for the representation and equality of South Asians in media. When designing a set of posters for her, I wanted to highlight her creative and feminine energy in a way that showcased the beauty of Pakistani fashion and culture. I also wanted to include sketchy and painterly elements to compliment the art she’s done, as she wanted the posters to showcase some of her work. All drawings featured in these posters are hers, except for the flowers and petals incorporated throughout. Ultimately, I aimed to combine many of her pieces into a visually interesting and cohesive set of designs to allow her to effectively advertise her work. As a fellow South Asian woman in design, I greatly respect her mission as an artist and jumped at the opportunity to showcase her talents and passions to the world.