meaDe: the animated series
Hand Drawing, Adobe Photoshop, Adodeb Illustrator, Adobe After Effects
Traditional /Digital drawing and animation
Spring 2015
This was so much of a running joke at my apartment that I decided to take it literally (basically that our lives are so unbelievably weird that someone should actually make a sitcom).
meaDe: the animated series is a conceptual animated series based on the many miss-adventures of my roommates, our neighbors, and I while living on Meade Street. It takes inspiration and stylistically blends a mix of classic 90's sitcoms such The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin, Living Single, and A Different World, with a cross of modern adult cartoons such as Family Guy and The Boondocks.
Basically, meaDe is centered around three young recent graduate architect roommates; Sam, an “encourageable” dreamer from "outside of Philly," Christian, a smooth talking, "strategic" entrepreneur from Detroit, and Ashley, a down-to-Earth "sista girl" from Brooklyn. In the series, their lifestyles and approaches to various scenarios often clash with one another. The series focuses on the relationship between as well as their fellow housemates, "The McPherson's" and the rest of the neighborhood while living in the heart of the "uniquely gritty" city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
As the self-proclaimed, "big brother" of the house, Christian is a smooth talking, no shit takin', Detroit raised entrepreneur and graduate of the illustrious, Hampton University. Any chance he's given he'll be sure to tell you, and I quote "you ain't shit, your momma ain't shit, and you kids ain't gonna be shit." As raw as he can be, he acts as the moral fiber of the house; generally dropping some much needed worldly wisdom in the mist of the houses confusion.
The residential Lauryn Hill, Meade's Erica Badu, if you will, Sista Girl, better known as Ashley is the Brooklyn born "Mother Nature" of the house. Between Sam excitable ways and Christian's strategic nature, she serves as the middle ground despite often being dusted off by her roommates even when she's right. Ashley, always peeling the layers off of something, is a major conspiracy theorist and along with her "mate" Wadjet, believes everything from aliens to lizard people.
Barbara is the rough and gritty street walking neighbor of the Meade's. She often appears out of nowhere and engages in awkward conversation with them. Often, she bangs down the door all hours of the day just to offer to get breakfast. Sam refers to her as "the truest essence of a Pittsburgher" and says that she is the main reason that he never answers the door. Despite having lived there for over a year, Barbara often still can't tell the three roommates apart, including Ashley.
As the self-proclaimed, "big brother" of the house, Christian is a smooth talking, no shit takin', Detroit raised entrepreneur and graduate of the illustrious, Hampton University. Any chance he's given he'll be sure to tell you, and I quote "you ain't shit, your momma ain't shit, and you kids ain't gonna be shit." As raw as he can be, he acts as the moral fiber of the house; generally dropping some much needed worldly wisdom in the mist of the houses confusion.
The Borough of Sharpsburg began this project with the idea that their public library would become a centerpiece for Main Street, that would spark new vibrancy to their central commercial district. This library replaces a mundane building with a bold community asset that is sparking a change in perception of the district and be a harbinger of new development. The project involves an addition and renovation, tripling the size of the existing structure. The Pittsburgh Quarterly describes the Sharpsburg Community Library as “an effective metaphor for the experience of the library as a place where a community assembles.”
Built within a tight budget of $206 /sf, the library is not only well suited to the intellectual stimulation of reading, but also captivates usersand the entire community and can accommodate many activities dynamically. This library is both not only an inviting and memorable experience... but now, not just a place to go, but a place to be.
