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An online home for the Octavia’s Parables podcast

Screenshot of the landing page of the Octavia’s Parables podcast. The design features a full-screen collage by Krista Franklin, a visual ode to Octavia Butler's literary works. The artwork intertwines elements of swirling smoke, splattered blood, and depictions of urban decay, reflecting the philosophy of change and transformation in Butler's stories. "OCTAVIA'S PARABLES" is prominently displayed in salmon-colored lettering above the collage, with a simple navigation menu offering access to sections like 'About', 'Episodes', 'Listen', 'Read Octavia', 'Contact', and 'Support', inviting listeners to delve deeper into the podcast's content.

Creating the website for Octavia’s Parables, a podcast where hosts Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown examine Octavia Butler’s writings, has been one of the greatest honors of my career. Together with my team at And Also Too and the staff of Octavia’s Parables, we designed an archival site for the podcast content, crafting a visual experience that reflects Octavia’s teachings and philosophy.

The website’s design draws inspiration from Krista Franklin’s artwork for the podcast, incorporating digital collages that feature roads, spaceships, and desert landscapes reminiscent of the settings in Octavia’s novels. These elements not only pay homage to the source material but also visually articulate the themes of change and transformation that are fundamental to Octavia’s philosophy, ensuring that each section within the site reflects the essence of her visionary work.

with

Octavia’s Parables

adrienne maree brown

Toshi Reagon

 

And Also Too

Una Lee (art direction)

Zahra Agjee (studio coordination)

services

  • Web Design
Screenshot from the ‘About the Podcast’ section on the Octavia's Parables podcast website. The page has a soft white background, featuring bold, deep purple text summarizing the podcast's focus on Octavia E. Butler's literary works. A striking black and white image of Octavia Butler herself is aligned to the right, emerging from a cloud of purple ink splatters that radiate from behind her, reminiscent of a cosmic explosion.
Screenshot of the landing page of the Octavia’s Parables podcast. The design features a full-screen collage by Krista Franklin, a visual ode to Octavia Butler's literary works. The artwork intertwines elements of swirling smoke, splattered blood, and depictions of urban decay, reflecting the philosophy of change and transformation in Butler's stories. "OCTAVIA'S PARABLES" is prominently displayed in salmon-colored lettering above the collage, with a simple navigation menu offering access to sections like 'About', 'Episodes', 'Listen', 'Read Octavia', 'Contact', and 'Support', inviting listeners to delve deeper into the podcast's content.
Screenshot of 'The Team' section from the About page in the Octavia's Parables podcast website. The title "THE TEAM" is prominently displayed in bold, purple letters. On the left sits a black-and-white photo of co-host adrienne maree brown, who is centered in a meditative pose with a gentle smile. To the right is co-host Toshi Reagon, also in a black-and-white portrait, smiling while holding a guitar. Both portraits are framed by a purple sprinkle effect, which adds a sci-fi feel to the page.
Screenshot from the "Where to Listen" section of the Octavia's Parables podcast website. Splattered blood patterns overlay a two-tone background that transitions from off-white to a deep salmon. Five oval buttons labeled with different podcast platforms (Apple, Google, RadioPublic, Stitcher, Spotify) are evenly spaced across the page, offering listeners a choice of platforms for accessing the podcast. In the bottom right, two futuristic domed buildings, resembling landed spacecraft, anchor the design.
Screenshot of the landing 'About' page from the Octavia's Parables podcast website. The page features a digital collage of a desert road leading into a star-filled night sky, flanked by two futuristic domed buildings, resembling landed spacecraft. The page title "ABOUT" is prominently displayed in bold white text against the cosmic backdrop. Below, a navigation bar includes options such as 'The Podcast', 'Octavia E. Butler', and 'The Team', offering visitors a guide to learn more about the podcast's inspiration, its episodes, and the creators behind it.
Screenshot of the 'Episodes' section on the homepage of the Octavia's Parables podcast. A graphic of a smoky swirl across the top of the screen transitions to an off-white background. Centered on the page is a two-column episode feed. The type is set in deep red and earth tones. Descriptive text beneath each episode title provides a teaser of the episode content, inviting listeners to explore further. A prominent button labeled "ALL EPISODES" in a red outlined ellipse sits below.
Screenshot from an episode page in the “Parable of the Sower” series on the Octavia's Parables podcast website. The page features a digital collage of a pile of burning debris, an ode to the themes of change and transformation central to Parable of the Sower. Above the image, a text snippet offers a summary of the podcast episode, inviting visitors to download the transcript. Below the fiery graphic, links to various podcast platforms such as Apple, Google, RadioPublic, Spotify, and Stitcher are laid out, inviting listeners to engage with the podcast on their preferred service.

A tribute to Octavia Butler’s legacy

The site stands as a tribute to Octavia Butler’s legacy. It functions as a love letter to her visionary ideas, encouraging visitors to explore and reflect on the profound impact of her work.

Screenshot from the ‘About the Podcast’ section on the Octavia's Parables podcast website. The page has a soft white background, featuring bold, deep purple text summarizing the podcast's focus on Octavia E. Butler's literary works. A striking black and white image of Octavia Butler herself is aligned to the right, emerging from a cloud of purple ink splatters that radiate from behind her, reminiscent of a cosmic explosion.
Screenshot of the landing 'About' page from the Octavia's Parables podcast website. The page features a digital collage of a desert road leading into a star-filled night sky, flanked by two futuristic domed buildings, resembling landed spacecraft. The page title "ABOUT" is prominently displayed in bold white text against the cosmic backdrop. Below, a navigation bar includes options such as 'The Podcast', 'Octavia E. Butler', and 'The Team', offering visitors a guide to learn more about the podcast's inspiration, its episodes, and the creators behind it.

Digital collages

Digital collages are strategically placed throughout the site, serving as gateways into Octavia’s worlds.

Section transitions

The site features section transitions that resonate with the themes of change and transformation central to Octavia’s philosophy.

Screenshot of 'The Team' section from the About page in the Octavia's Parables podcast website. The title "THE TEAM" is prominently displayed in bold, purple letters. On the left sits a black-and-white photo of co-host adrienne maree brown, who is centered in a meditative pose with a gentle smile. To the right is co-host Toshi Reagon, also in a black-and-white portrait, smiling while holding a guitar. Both portraits are framed by a purple sprinkle effect, which adds a sci-fi feel to the page.

Keep exploring

The website landing page for adrienne maree brown features a full-screen background image with a rich, textured look resembling flowing water or marbled patterns in shades of teal and dark blue. Centrally overlaid is a white text box containing the name "adrienne maree brown" in lowercase, elegant typography, followed by the words "awe. liberation. pleasure." in a smaller font. Below this, a navigation bar with buttons such as 'columns', 'projects', 'books', 'podcasts', and 'blog' invites further exploration.

Website design with adrienne maree brown
Image of a program piece for The Music Gallery from 2017. It features a program guide cover and an open spread against a vibrant yellow background. The guide cover features a striking design, with "THE MUSIC GALLERY" written in bold, capitalized letters on the center of the page. The artwork is composed of a bright pink, psychedelic pattern that drips downward from a monochromatic striped background. The open spread next to the guide cover displays a black and white photograph of Chino Amobi from NON Records, in a cityscape. The facing page has text and images, including a dynamic photo of a saxophonist, related to the event "INTERRO".

Program guide design with The Music Gallery