Saul Bass Museum Poster
Poster design requires a thoughtful and strategic approach. A successful poster should consider the target audience, an event’s purpose, and communicate essential information effectively. By following the design thinking process which includes brainstorming, sketching, refining, and finalizing the design, one can create a visually appealing poster that promotes an event and encourages people to attend.
I was tasked with creating an image-based poster announcing an exhibition of work by an artist. My layout had to clearly communicate my artist and their design style. The poster had to be aesthetically engaging and efficiently use typography, alignment, a grid, an image, and negative space. It also needed to provide access to all necessary information and be communicated in a proper hierarchy. I chose to focus on the famous graphic and title sequence designer, Saul Bass.
After conducting research, I created three sketches of possible poster designs in Bass’ style. When I finalized my sketches, I used Adobe Illustrator to start laying out my designs and use relatable color pallets. The pen tool was the most useful for this project as I traced many of Bass’ original letters and images from iconic posters like Anatomy of a Murder (1959), The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), and The Human Factor (1979). I decided to use Optima for the body text as I felt it was easy to read and complimented Bass’ aesthetic. Following many critique sessions, I decided to combine a few of my graphic elements within one poster.
Capturing essence: An event poster needs to convey the key message of the event in a concise and compelling manner. I stayed consistent with the style of Saul Bass’ work and I learned how to organize essential information in a clear and effective hierarchy.
Choosing appropriate colors: The colors red, white, and black stand out and stay true to the theme of many of Bass’ famous movie posters. It was crucial for me to understand how to choose colors that complemented his work and the theme of the event.
Selecting appropriate fonts: Working with Bass’ typography was one of my favorite parts of this project. Bass used distinct geometric shapes that capture the attention of the viewer and deliver a powerful message. It was important for me to select fonts that created a balance and complimented his imagery.
Applying constructive criticism: Receiving constructive feedback was crucial for my professional growth as a designer. I learned how to balance my own perspective with the viewpoints of others. This allowed me to produce better work and appeal to a larger audience.