The Meaning Behind the Message: Insight on 2024 Latine Heritage Month, with logo designer Jaen Muñoz

October 1, 2024

Utilizing his art to recognize these inequalities, Jaen created a beautifully symbolic logo for LHM 2024.

By Mia McCauley, Student Affairs Intern Each September through October marks a time of special celebration on our campus: Latine Heritage Month (LHM). Hosted by the UW–Madison Latine Cultural Center, this year’s LHM theme, “Illuminating Our Voices,” aims to celebrate the vibrant art history within the Latine Community. Filled with events such as ‘Beats without Borders’, or the Latine Ball, there are countless opportunities for uplifting passionate Latine voices throughout this month. One UW student, Jaen Muñoz, dedicates himself to bringing awareness to the social injustices that many Latin-American individuals face. As a queer Latino, growing up in a Mexican immigrant household, Jaen has witnessed many of these struggles firsthand. Utilizing his art to recognize these inequalities, Jaen created a beautifully symbolic logo for LHM 2024. UW–Madison’s LHM 2024 Logo, Jaen Muñoz The first initial steps of designing the logo happens as a group, said Muñoz. “We sat down, began brainstorming, and. ame to the consensus that we wanted to focus on the arts; essentially creating something loud, meant to showcase the voices of everyone in our community.” From there, we began reflecting on common themes that connect us, such as a love for music, and celebration, said Muñoz. “Everyone agreed a large speaker would be perfect to depict this message.”

UW–Madison’s LHM 2024 Logo, Jaen Muñoz

Surrounded by the national flowers of different Latin American countries, the boom-box-like speaker appears to be blasting the words “Illuminating Our Voices,” just as the theme speaks to. “Everything in the logo has a purpose; it’s all been inspired by something else,” said Jaen. Join Jaen and the LCC as they illuminate their voices in celebration through this month. For more information about Latine Heritage Month and The Latine Cultural Center, visit the MSC website, or head to the second floor of the Red Gym.