REFLECTION // HOW POSTERS WORK:
After watching the video “How Posters Work with Ellen Lupton” it made me think a lot more about how good graphic design really is like telling a short story. A poster is really just a way of conveying a concept in a succinct and visually pleasing way that invites the viewer to join it on a journey.
It was interesting also learning how many posters and advertisements featured people or objects as part of a story without making them a main character until the work of Lucian Bernhard. As someone with a marketing background thinking about that felt unnatural in a sense, as giving personality and thinking about the story behind products is a key part of not just advertising, but product development in general.
One thing I think I struggle with in my designs is simplicity and editing back. I often look at incredible works by German and Swiss designers and wish I could emulate that, but it just isn’t me. I think that is why I have always been drawn to the poster art of 60s rock and roll. Not only do I feel a personal connection to it due to the local history of where I am from in California, but the bright colors and disorienting/memorizing designs have always spoken to me. Lupton mentioned that these posters can sometimes be difficult or confusing to look at and while I think this is true, I also think that the tension created with the psychedelic visual elements and splashes of color tell the story of the subjects so well I truly can’t imagine it any other way.
. ݁⊹ ݁˚☞⋆｡˚. ݁₊
ASSIGNMENT // 2024 WINTER SHOW POSTER:
Design Brief: For this challenge, we are inspired by topics like physicality, connectedness, shared space, and celebration. We’re looking for a strong conceptual design that communicates the ITP/IMA ethos. We would like to see the more humanistic side of our community and less wires, breadboards, and LEDs. A successful poster will offer a compelling visual in harmony with all the requisite textual information.
.⋅˚₊‧ ☞ ‧₊˚ ⋅ THE POSTER DESIGN .⋅˚₊‧ ☞ ‧₊˚ ⋅
ALCHEMY
al·che·my (noun)
the medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy whose aims were the transmutation of the base metals into gold, the discovery of a universal cure for diseases, and the discovery of a means of indefinitely prolonging life
For my poster, I was inspired by the concept of ‘digital alchemy’ as a way to describe the work we do at ITP. Constantly evolving, chasing speculative futures, and using creativity and skill to turn simple supplies into gold.
I was first inspired by looking through creative commons and public domain images of alchemy drawings and illuminated manuscripts.
While I wanted there to be some obviously digital components, I wanted the poster to capture the old style of manuscripts that detailed alchemy as a natural science akin to magic.
The background is a layering of the milky way and an atmospheric rainbow. The symbols on the hand are the ITP logo and electrical schematics that reflect the runs and sketches commonly drawn on the human hand. The hand sits in a portal to the space of creativity that comes to light through the darkness.
I think if I had more time I might play around with this concept and layout a bit more and maybe include some other symbols/imagery to tie everything together. For the poster I actually submit for a chance at being featured for the winter show I might take some extra time to do this.
Overall it was really interesting and fun to see my growth over this class, especially when compared to some of the very first classes I ever took in graphic design and typography at the undergraduate level. I can really appreciate how far I have come and taking this class makes me want to do more graphic design and digital art just for fun.
. ݁⊹ ݁˚☞⋆｡˚. ݁₊
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itp oddities 
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