The basis for this project started from the need to learn and explore the fundamentals of graphic design and to get a deeper grasp on design as a whole. I wanted a comprehensive skill set in areas such as typography, photography, composition management, 3D modeling and illustration.
Premise
To achieve these goals I started to create posters for songs that I enjoy. With this broad theme I could easily delve into different techniques and visuals with little to no limitations on the subject. To keep myself from slacking off, I began to post them periodically to social media such as Instagram and Behance which has resulted in over 120 posters in a few years.
Approach
I gathered up old photos from my drives and began to take photos with my phone for the basis of the posters as I didn’t want to rely too much on stock assets. I also bought many cheap display typefaces which I used as a base for custom typography. Some posters use my old illustrations as a basis and sometimes creating a poster inspired me to illustrate new art to use in them. In later years I have studied 3D-programs to give the posters some extra flare. The end result was a comprehensive catalog of useful skills that landed me working in an advertising agency.
Execution
The Process of Creating a Poster
Most of the time my poster making process starts with the photos I have taken from random places and situations. I start to listen to my favorite playlists to find a suitable song to fit the mood of the photos. After that I mask and apply different color filters to the images and the composition of the poster starts to emerge.
Once I have selected the song for the composition, I begin to experiment with typefaces for the title of the song. I usually start from a typeface I have bought and modify it or I design one from scratch. In this example I also modeled some 3D rose thorns around the typography.
To finalize the poster I add a few filters on top (for example grain or worn out textures) and then add my logo and the number of the poster.
Movement
The demand for animated media has grown exponentially in the past few years which made me want to focus on exploring ways to add interesting movement and animation techniques to my posters. Mixing 3D-elements and 2D-motion graphics to my work helped me to keep the project fresh and interesting.
