The Community
Each year as every university welcomes new students and says farewell to graduating students, the community within the breakdancing scene shifts. Because of this, our first priority is to research and gain a better understanding of who we will be servicing even if it doesn't have a huge impact on design.
We have to keep in mind we're not just an event, but a community where existing students can network with one another, learn from alumni, and connect with established professionals in different industries.
Main Objectives
What is their club culture like? How do members prepare for events and competitions?
How does UCBL's annual event play a role in student life and career paths?
Bboys Anonymous of UC Irvine
A few of us went to local universities for on-site interviews, while other out-of-state competitors submitted videos regarding their club. By interviewing members, we gained a better understanding of club culture, training regimens, and how they utilize their organization as an outlet.
Connecting Passion with Profession
As we transitioned into the rebrand of the organization, our team summarized the insights into a video that shows the influence this event has on the community throughout the years. Our findings help showcase the importance of this event to unfamiliar audiences.
A lot of dancers and students in the community look up to those that have come before them. Some have even been mentored by those they've admired. Our team wanted to bring to light the wisdom of generations that came before and how the synergy between dance and academics has helped shape their careers and overall lifestyle. Even though one episode was filmed, many interviews were conducted with other individuals.
Key questions asked during interviews
1. Which characterisics are important for success in both academics and breaking?
2. Do you think academics can be enriched by dance?
3. How does hiphop benefit youth?
4. How does UCBL affect collegiate dancers?
5. Did you have something like this when you were younger, how would it have affected you if you did?
Bboy Del-Roc
UCBL Judge, Educator, Professor
"UCBL has a very positive effect on the dance community especially those who are attending college. In my experience, we were the bboys who spent hours dancing in the quad or dancing
in the hallways.
I think UCBL gives them some purpose of why they’re dancing and also gives them a network to build with when they go to these events. They can meet other dancers who are also attending college and may understand what it means to be a bboy/bgirl struggling to also be a scholar and how to balance both those lives."
Livestream and Socials
One of our continuous goals is to increase the overall awareness and attendance of this event, eventually resulting in more interests to compete, attend, and become involved with UCBL. In order to pursue this, we looked at popular trends at the time and one we stumbled upon was the recent release of the popular game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Within the game, players have the option to set up a tournament style bracket system to compete alongside other players. Being a competitive-tournament style event, this inspiration was perfect for both our social media designs and lower thirds for livestreaming.
Below are the final designs for both social and livestream. The designs translated throughout the deliverables we needed for the event including our annual championship patches for the winners and the promo video.
Aspire to Inspire
Unfortunately due to the pandemic, events moving forward from 2020 were put on pause. This doesn't mean the impact of the event has diminished. Since 2014 our team has grown into a close-knit group of 11; some of which are alumni student dancers from competing universities.
Even though this chapter has closed, we continue to hear from community members of how much this event has brought them closer as team members, alumni, coworkers, and professionals. Many of which recall these events and reminisce on the immense influence it's had in both the dance community and their professional careers.
Kai Goh
Certified Drone Pilot/Video Editor, UCSB Alumni (UCSBreakin')
"Maintaining a good student and dance life is a game of mental and physical balance. Instead of looking at how the two conflict with each other, I try to see how they complement one another.
When I have been sitting down all day, working on my studies, there is nothing like going to night sessions to direct all my pent-up tension on the floor."
