Have you ever wondered how Marvel characters are developed for film?  Join MAD senior curator Barbara Paris Gifford, former Marvel Cinematic Universe designer, Anthony Francisco, and jewelry designer Douriean Fletcher for an afternoon conversation on what it means to design for film. Fletcher and Francisco will recount their creative contributions, both individually and together, to the Black Panther film franchise. Francisco also will discuss the film characters he has helped to create, from Baby Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy to Loki from Thor, among many others.  Together, both artists will dive into their collaboration on Black Panther’s Dora Milaje and their transformation of 2D designs into a three-dimensional reality.

The webinar link will be shared 2 days prior to the event via email.

About the speakers

Douriean Fletcher is an acclaimed jewelry designer and artisan whose visionary work bridges the realms of adornment and storytelling. Best known for her intricate and culturally resonant pieces, Fletcher has established herself as a prominent figure in the world of jewelry design, infusing each creation with profound narrative and aesthetic beauty. Fletcher's artistic journey is deeply rooted in her appreciation for cultural heritage and historical artistry, elements that shine through in her meticulously crafted designs. Her work gained significant recognition when she was selected as the specialty jeweler for Marvel's blockbuster film Black Panther, where her jewelry played a pivotal role in bringing the rich, Afrofuturistic world of Wakanda to life. This high-profile project showcased her ability to blend traditional African motifs with modern design, earning her accolades and a global audience. As part of the costume design team, she became the first jewelry artist to be part of an Academy Award-winning team. Her work is currently on view in Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture.

Anthony Francisco is a  former senior staff member in the Marvel Studios Visual Development Department, where he helped design the heroes and villains of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Dubbed the “visual father” of Baby Groot, he has also designed iconic characters such as the Dora Milaje, Okoye and Nakia, Loki for Thor Ragnarok, Tazerface, and Teen Groot to name a few. He also helped shape movies like Avengers Infinity War for which he came up with dropping pieces of the moon on Doctor Strange in his battle with Thanos! Other Marvel Films include Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1,2,3; Ant-man , Ant-man and the Wasp , Ant-man QuantumMania , Black Panther 1&2, Captain Marvel 1&2, Doctor Strange , Avengers: Infinity War and End Game, Wanda Vision, Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Widow and Shang-Chi. Now CEO / Creative Director of Ubermonster Productions Inc, an IP development company designing stories and creating worlds for OTT and OSMU, his newest project is Monster in the Mansion, an asymmetrical horror game set to release on the ROBLOX platform March of 2026.