In Conversation with Hannah Beachler
Academy Award-winning production designer HANNAH BEACHLER speaks with authority and sensitivity about how she – and others – can tap into the creative process. An in-demand innovative talent known for blockbuster projects like the international sensation Black Panther and Beyoncé’s stunning visual concept albums Lemonade and Black is King, Hannah offers audiences indelible insights about the power of storytelling and the role design in innovating for the future.
Event Success Story: Hannah Beachler joined the University of Michigan for an inspiring and visionary lecture event
Oscar-winning production designer and curator HANNAH BEACHLER gave the Jill S. Harris Lecture at the University of Michigan, receiving a glowing review. Presented by the Institute for the Humanities, the talk was part of the Humanities Afrofutures month-long program that brought together “scholars, artists, and activists to reexamine the past, explore critical issues in the present, and create space for imagining possible futures.” With global blockbusters on her resume including Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Moonlight, and Beyonce’s visual album Lemonade, Beachler was a superb choice for the visionary conversation.
Beachler recently served as Lead Curator and Designer for the Met’s stunning exhibit, “Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room.” The groundbreaking designer shared “her views on world building and the influence these pop culture works can have on communities,” engaging the audience of more than 1,100 students, faculty, staff, and community members. The host raved after the event, “Our time with Hannah was outstanding. The students enjoyed her immensely and the conversation was equally informative and enjoyable.” (University of Michigan)
Speaker Spotlight: Hannah Beachler helps companies embrace creativity
Academy Award-winning production designer HANNAH BEACHLER is an in-demand innovative talent known for blockbuster projects like the international sensation Black Panther and Beyoncé’s stunning visual concept albums Lemonade and Black is King. Her artistry translates across mediums, from films like Fruitvale Station, Creed, and Moonlight, to Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s mega tour OTRII, to a recent role as Lead Curator and Designer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibit “Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room.” Hannah speaks with authority and sensitivity about how she – and others – can tap into the creative process.
Following her groundbreaking Academy Award as the first African American to win for Production Design for Black Panther, Hannah was named one of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business” and Ellevate’s International Woman of Change, among numerous accolades. She is a sought-after speaker for events, engaging audiences at Google, Ford’s World Symposium, Detroit CityLab, UX Week 2018, MoMa NYC, World 50, Inc., Harvard University Graduate School of Design, and United Nations African Descendants. Hannah offers audiences indelible insights about her work in the film industry, the power of storytelling, and the role of art and design in innovating for the future.
Hannah Beachler made history when she became the first African American to be nominated, and to win, an Academy Award in 2019 for Production Design for her work on the Marvel Superhero film Black Panther, directed by her long-time collaborator Ryan Coogler. Most recently she designed Kill Switch with Academy Award winning director Steven Soderbergh, and Dark Waters, with Academy Award nominated director Todd Haynes. Hannah designed Beyoncé’s stunning visual concept album Lemonade and earned a 2016 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Production Design for A Variety Nonfiction, a 2017 Peabody for her work on the Visual Album, and took home the 2017 Art Directors Guild Award for Excellence in Production Design for Awards or Event Special. She joined the singer again in 2018 to design the interstitials for Beyonce and Jay-Z’s mega tour OTRII. In 2019 Hannah was named one of Fast Company’s "100 Most Creative People in Business," Marie Claire Magazine’s "50 New Guard," Elle Magazine’s "2019 Women In Hollywood’s Power List," and InStyle’s "50 Badass Women List." For her work on Black Panther, Hannah was named Ellevate’s 2019 International Woman of Change and received the Critic’s Choice Award, Hollywood Film Awards, Latino Entertainment Journalists Association Film Awards, Music City Film Critics’ Association Award et al.
In 2016 Hannah collaborated with director Barry Jenkins on the 2017 Best Picture Oscar-winning film, Moonlight, a coming-of-age tale that transcends traditional genre boundaries. The film was named one of the top 25 movies of the 21st century by The New York Times. She also Designed Don Cheadle’s Directorial Debut feature film Miles Ahead, Sundance Film Festival Audience and Jury Award winning film Fruitvale Station, her first collaboration with Director Ryan Coogler. In 2015 Hannah designed Creed, Coogler’s sophomore feature file, the story of Apollo Creed’s legacy. She has been the keynote speaker for tech, automotive and architecture firms all over the world, such as Google, Ford’s “World Symposium”, Detroit CityLab, The PGAV, UX Week 2018, MoMa NYC, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, United Nations African Descendants, and given Master Class’ in Production Design at the 55th Chicago International Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival.
Collaborators include: Academy Award Winning Director Steven Soderbergh, Academy Award-nominated directors Todd Haynes, and Dee Rees, Grammy and Emmy-nominated directors Khalil Joseph and Beyonce Knowles-Carter, Academy Award-nominated cinematographers Ed Lachman, Rodrigo Prieto, and prolific cinematographers Maryse Alberti and Malik Sayeed; and legendary Academy Award-winning costume designers Ruth Carter, and Colleen Atwood.
Based in New Orleans, she is represented in the United States by William Morris Endeavor (WME).
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