By The Community For The Community
Bloom Season is an online resource for Black entrepreneurs created by purpose agency Kin on behalf of Mailchimp. The resource has been created, curated and developed by a team of Black creators, designers, photographers, artists, illustrators and writers. The inaugural issue of Bloom Season, for example, focuses on the specific challenges that Black entrepreneurs face: isolation, alienation and mistrust.
The project is self-described as “a community centered digital resource that provides guidance on starting, running and growing a business. It also provides perspective on striking the balance between professional and personal life, discussing important topics including mental health, avoiding burnout, working with your family, perfecting the pivot and discovering your third act.” Adds Kwame Taylor-Hayford of Kin: “The name was something we thought really captured the idea that the path for small-business owners of color should be paved with possibilities and not roadblocks. They are the roses that grew from concrete. We’re here to help them realize their ambitions and build the businesses of their dreams.”
Inspired by Afrofuturism, the design concept imagines a bright future for diverse entrepreneurs. The type, the photography, the illustrations are all curated to include a representation of Black creators that accentuate and amplifies the content. Says Taylor-Hayford: “We decided it was time to address that via an engaging, accessible digital experience. There isn’t a lot out there from an editorial perspective that accurately captures the experience of business owners of color – deliberately written, designed, photographed, illustrated and videoed by the community, for the community.”
