What Black Is This You Say?

Polymode designed the illustrated anthology of texts on artist Amanda Williams, edited in collaboration with Camille Bacon. What Black Is This You Say?, by Amanda Williams, is a richly layered anthology that builds upon her eponymous public artwork—designed in collaboration with Polymode, utilizing the typeface Polymode Sans—originally installed on the facade of Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York City (2021–2023). What began as a provocative series of Instagram posts exploring the many shades and meanings of Black through color and caption evolved into a striking public intervention, an exhibition at Spelman College, and now this publication.

The visual impact of the original artwork demanded an equally compelling translation into print—and we embraced that challenge. Bold typographic treatments, vibrant color fields, and thoughtful sequencing mirror the rhythm of Williams’ 17 hues of Black, offering an immersive, sensorial reading experience. Each color is accompanied by original captions, expanded upon through essays, poems, and prose by an intimate circle of Williams’ friends, peers, and collaborators—including Roxane Gay, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Jenna Wortham. The design invites readers to move fluidly between visual language and textual reflection, reinforcing the layered complexity of Black identity and cultural expression.