ABOUT

My Inspiration: Warhol Meets Legacy Living in Pittsburgh; I’ve always been surrounded by Andy Warhol’s influence. His boldness with color, repetition, and iconic imagery shaped the foundation of American pop art. I wanted to blend Warhol’s aesthetic with my own streetwear-glow vibe, honoring a woman whose story deserved the same iconic treatment. 

✏️ Supplies & Tools Used Traditional Materials Pencil: Standard graphite pencil for initial hand drawing Paper: Blank printing paper (8.5x11) for sketching Scanner: Home printer/scanner to digitize artwork at 300 DPI

Digital Software Adobe Illustrator: Vectorized the sketch Refined linework and layout Built layered structure (portrait, background, crown, text) Adobe Photoshop: Added glow effects Applied galaxy textures Finalized colors, blending, and lighting 
Additional Resources Stock Images: Used for reference 

✏️ Step 1: Hand Drawing the Base Sketch I began this piece traditionally, using graphite pencils to sketch Ann Lowe from the chest up. I wanted to ground the portrait in raw emotion and texture—starting with the most personal, hands-on part of my process. I referenced classic images of Ann Lowe and reimagined her in a pose tilting her glasses, symbolizing a reawakening and rediscovery of her legacy. I added her signature wide-brim hat, a cosmic scarf, and a simple outline of a crown—faint yet regal. 

Step 2: Scanning the Drawing Once the pencil sketch was complete, I scanned it using my home printer at 300 DPI. This preserved the fine lines and shading while giving me a clean digital file to work from. I then imported the file into Adobe Illustrator for vector refinement. 

Step 3: Vectorizing & Refining in Adobe Illustrator in Illustrator, I carefully traced key lines and cleaned up the shapes. I focused on boldening the contour lines while preserving the emotional integrity of the original sketch. This stage helped me define the sunglasses, scarf, and facial features clearly. I used Illustrator’s pen tool to lay the groundwork for a stylized pop-art silhouette. 

Step 4: Finishing & Glow Effects in Adobe Photoshop The real magic happened in Photoshop. Inspired by Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Diptych, I created a vibrant color block background using bright pink, teal, orange, and violet—each one representing a layer of Ann Lowe’s overlooked influence. I then added glowing galaxy effects in the glasses, scarf, and crown to symbolize her cosmic impact on fashion history. Her name appears below the portrait in glowing purple-blue letters, reinforcing her right to shine. I balanced the glow with subtle shadows, added star textures, and applied a soft aura around her entire silhouette.

The result? A fusion of legacy, fashion, space, and pop culture. 

Why I Chose This Design I created this piece to honor Ann Lowe, the first African American fashion designer to gain recognition in high society—yet her name was erased from so much of history. Most famously, she designed Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding dress but received no public credit. This illustration represents her reclaiming that spotlight—wearing the crown she always deserved. Her galaxy-filled sunglasses show how far ahead of her time she truly was. The glow isn't just visual—it's symbolic of the light she gave to generations of Black designers. 

About Me My name is Savannah Jackson, a Fashion Designer and Graphic Artist based in Pittsburgh, PA. I’m the founder of Sava.Nation Designs, a Luxury streetwear and athleisure brand that blends futuristic elements like glow-in-the-dark effects, digital fashion, and upcycled materials to tell bold, cultural stories. I have a professional background in graphic design and fashion design, and I’ve worked with brands like Shein, Beringei, PGH Nites Magazine, and start up fashion & editorial brand while also building my own path through platforms like Fiverr. I use design not just to make clothes—but to spark conversation, representation, and visibility. Sava.Nation Designs is about: Empowering the underrepresented Blending streetwear with celestial vibes Reclaiming legacy through glow Creating art that moves with purpose This piece is more than a portrait—it’s a mission statement. ???? Closing Thoughts I believe art should honor those who came before us while lighting the way for those who follow. This contest gave me the opportunity to fuse two icons—Warhol and Lowe—into one glowing celebration of Black legacy and creative vision. Thank you for considering my entry and may Ann Lowe’s name forever shine as brightly as the stars she inspired.