AILEEN NIIZAWA : : ART DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Brand Identity • Marketing Campaigns • Print, Digital, & Environmental Design • Packaging
Community Engagement
& Event Design
Much of my community-based design work supports organizations and events I’m personally connected to. I’m always happy to contribute my design experience, often on a pro bono basis, to create engaging, welcoming materials that encourage participation, connection, and community spirit.
Obon is a Japanese Buddhist tradition honoring and remembering loved ones and ancestors who have passed.
At the Buddhist Church of Sacramento, the annual celebration brings the community together for an evening of remembrance, dancing, food, music and colorful yukata beneath glowing lanterns.
For this piece, I wanted to capture some of that sense of wonder and reflection. I illustrated two young attendees looking toward the lanterns, using them as a symbol of remembrance, connection and the generations who came before us. The vibrant twilight colors and floating lights were designed to convey the warmth and almost magical atmosphere of the evening.
Video & Livestream Graphics
I created a custom video template that extended the Obon visual identity into the event’s livestream and YouTube presentation. The graphic system was designed to frame photos, memorial tributes and event content while maintaining a consistent look throughout the program.
Photo Booth Backdrop
The Obon artwork was also adapted into a large-scale photo booth backdrop, giving guests a colorful setting for commemorative photos. I designed the accompanying photo template to carry the same lantern imagery, typography and twilight color palette into each keepsake.
Community Photo Display
Following the event, the church displayed a selection of photos from the photo booth along the hallway bulletin board. Seeing the templates repeated across so many photographs was a fun, collective record of the evening and the community that came together to celebrate Obon.
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