Poster, V2
Okay, here you go:
Past even my usual four-something posts; I’ll try to be brief. But I thought you’d appreciate some details.
Ironically, the same day I was on a soapbox about culture, the poster was rejected — for a lack of cultural understanding.
The three artists talking about their work are from India and the Caribbean, areas of the world culturally sensitive to being grouped (generally) with the African culture the mask represented.
Monica and I discussed it a little, and her take — she chose the mask photo, by the way — was that the mask was a “diverse take on comedy/tragedy.” Worked for me at the time, but both Dr. Young-Zook and the “esteemed designer” learned a lesson. I said in one of the comment threads that I’m glad it’s not easy, because it’s more interesting. You also learn more. Case in point.
So, Monica wanted to go back to the panel of fellow doctors, to coin a phrase, with some photo options. I sent her to iStock, where she found a few good potential photos — but I really didn’t want to see something that I’d liked that much go to an iStock photo. I wanted one of my photographs. Thankfully, I knew I had this. I’d just taken it (December 26th, as part of the Ringling Museum photo series that My Life is from) and knew as soon as I’d seen it that I wanted to use it for something.
Non-offensive, it fits both India and the Caribbean — the palm shadow works especially well, I think — but needed, well, work. Five hours later, here we are.
Am I going out on a limb, taking this time for something that could — might very likely be — rejected again? Maybe. But the “panel” will get this developed poster and the two iStock photos undeveloped. Hoping it’s enough to nudge them to using a design based on my photograph, and I enjoyed the exercise. It was worth the time.
And damned if I don’t like it just as much as the first one, for a ton of very different reasons. What do you think? Leave a comment.
Note: In the interests of full disclosure, I wanted everyone to know that I posted a (very) slightly tweaked version Saturday evening.
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Posted by Giles, Saturday, January 21, 2006, at 5:21 AM.
Posted to Art | Book people | Books | Books, design, art | Design | Flickr | Personal | Photography | Type and typography
Comments:
It sure looks better than the first one, especially for the lighter and somewhat more uniform background. I also like the not-exactly-matching-the -curve-of-the-window-textflow of the bio-box on the right.
Alas, there is the problem of the topic: what is the relation of the picture with the subject of the presentations. The artists might object to that.
On first seeing the poster I thought that inside the “windowframe” there was something like islamic calligraphy and that would have worked great, but on reviewing the original it turned out otherwise and now this is spoiled for me. It would be intrusive to the picture, but I would try to put some al-fresco typography (if there is a picture of it to be found) inside the arch (very discreet, to be sure).
Well, when I read that the other poster got rejected, I actually felt sad… I hate it when something that looks so beautiful doesn’t make the cut.
When that happens to me, the hardest thing to do is keep my heart and enthusiasm in the project instead of thinking, “fine, they don’t like what I do, I’ll just give them exactly what they want.” That always ends up being something I’m not proud of.
What I try to do is figure a way to do something even more beautiful, that fulfills their expectations and wants. Well, sir, that’s exactly what you’ve done here. And even if it doesn’t get approved either, keep your heart in it! It’s the only way to work.
word
Very nice. Love the colors and the type. I’m curious: why did you decide to have the type curve on the left not follow the photo curve exactly? (I like the difference but I wonder what led you to it.)
Martin, the photo’s supposed to be “something that represents both India and the Caribbean.” Since that’s a tall order, we focused on things abstract enough to appear on both places. Here, I’m hoping the palm and architecture that could work in either culture, combined with the color treatment, will do it.
Over on Flickr, Jhary, aka Dr. Gerald Lucas, one of Monica’s colleagues, comments that his eye gets “caught,” something that might be solved by adding something in there — but I sort of wanted you to get “caught” there, explore the window, and follow it to the tip — which points at the title.
Televator, you’ve nailed it. Thanks.
Aaron, glad you like it, too. The reason for the shape is both simple and complicated. I knew from the outset that I wanted the palm-shaded area for the artists’ photos and bios, plus the “available for purchase” callout.
Problem was making it work. Anything with a straight right edge looked strange, but I really wanted to honor the half-inch margin not only on the top and left, but bottom, too; alas, there was no way I was going to put text on top of the window.
That led to the experimentation with the shape. I wanted the title directly over the point in the window, and felt that needed breathing room. Eventually, duplicating the shape of the window, then extending it in perspective, worked best. I’ve become quite fond of the shape of the blank space — reminds me of one of those curved megaphones from the old days, or, especially, one of the things you stuck in your ear (the megaphone in reverse?) before there were hearing aids.
Note, too, that I eliminated the artists’ names (as subheads, I mean) from their bios. Did this so that the text would fit the top margin better especially, but also allows the column to be more compact.
I, too, was heartbroken when I found that we couldn’t use the first image. I thought it was gorgeous, though I’ll know better next time to mind that tickle in my head that says. . . “ooh, wait.” Like any other time I’m proffered something beautiful and find I can’t have it, I’m trying to love the new one equally and think it’s beautiful. It is lighter — more appropriate to the March dates for these writers and the warmer, almost tropical weather, we’re experiencing now. I love the curves and the loveliness of the picture.
Fabulous image for the second poster—the curvy ambiguity of the architectural shape provides a strong focal point that grabs the reader’s attention.