Overview
A graphic design piece exploring the universal language of money through hip-hop culture and multilingual typography. The work features a person holding slices of bread arranged like a traditional American hip-hop money spread.
The Concept
The idea started with a simple observation: bread is slang for money in countless cultures and languages. What if we could visualize this universal connection while paying homage to hip-hop's iconic money spread poses?
I wanted to create something that felt familiar yet surprising—taking the recognizable gesture of fanning out bills and replacing them with actual bread slices, creating a visual pun that works on multiple levels.
Starting Point
The project began with sourcing the right photograph. I needed an image that captured the confident, almost defiant energy of hip-hop money shots while leaving room for the concept to breathe.
Isolation & Composition
The next step was careful cutout work. Every edge matters when you're creating something meant to feel both real and surreal. The figure needed to pop against what would become a typographic background.
The Typography
This is where the concept really came together. The background features the word 'MONEY' written in 100 different languages—a dense, textured tapestry that reinforces the universal theme. The top title 'BREAD' anchors the piece, while a tiny subscript repeats the word 'bread' in those same 100 languages.
The typography choices were deliberate: bold enough to read as texture from a distance, detailed enough to reward close inspection. It's meant to work at multiple scales.
Final Piece
Reflection
This project taught me that the best visual puns aren't just clever—they reveal something true. Money, bread, wealth; these concepts transcend language. The hip-hop pose, so often about flexing individual success, becomes a statement about shared human experience.