THE OBJECT POSTER
This poster, an advertisement for Priester matches, was designed by graphic artist Lucian Bernhard in 1906 (www.designishistory.com/1920/lucian-bernhard/). It won first prize in a design competition. It is is considered by many as the singular design which launched the beginning of modern design and advertising as we know it. Most contemporary print and digital advertisements promoting products and services today are descendants of the object poster approach to messaging.
Its significance as a visual message is two fold: first, the use of a simplified image to convey an object or subject, and second, the juxtaposition of a word with that image. The object poster utilizes principles of semiotics and signification, where the word and at the image visually play off one another to create a nuanced signified message in a viewer’s mind.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Phase I-
To begin this design project, choose an object you have some familiarity with. It should be an object that is associated with an activity that you enjoy, or an object that you use on a regular basis.
To begin this design project, choose an object you have some familiarity with. It should be an object that is associated with an activity that you enjoy, or an object that you use on a regular basis.
Render it in simple colored shapes without outlines, visually reduced and edited down to its visual essence as an object. Make your object image as simple as possible.
Do not interpret and/or express the object. Visually represent it only as it is—a quotidian object. Choose a flat single color for the background of the design that provides an appropriate context.
A good example of a contemporary “object poster” designer/illustrator is Michael Schwab. You can see examples of his work at (www.michaelschwab.com).
Do not interpret and/or express the object. Visually represent it only as it is—a quotidian object. Choose a flat single color for the background of the design that provides an appropriate context.
A good example of a contemporary “object poster” designer/illustrator is Michael Schwab. You can see examples of his work at (www.michaelschwab.com).
SCHEDULE
TH – October 19 Object Poster Project Launch
T – October 24 Three Tight Object Image(s) are Due
Post research, sketches and refined images on blog.
Post research, sketches and refined images on blog.
_________________________________________________________________
TH – October 26 Five Tight Posters(s) are Due
Post process on blog.
Phase II-
The second phase of this product is to create 11x17 posters using your image (signified), as well as words linked to the image (signifier), on a colored background (context).
You have unlimited freedom on your choice of words, your poster background colors, as well as the size, relationships and composition of the image and/or words within the 11x17 composition, however the posters must meet specific visual communication objects. Borders and bleeds are permissible, but must be appropriately effective.
You will be limited however, to the use of two type faces — sans-serif font, Avenirs, and serif font, Georgia.
The five posters are as follows:
Object Posters
These first three are to communicate what the object IS:
• Poster 1 is to be the selected image only (no word) with a background color
• Poster 2 is to be a selected word only (no image) with a background color
• Poster 3 is to be both the selected word and image with a background color
Process Posters
This poster is to communicate what the object DOES:
• Poster 4 is to be the the selected word and image with a background color
Benefit Posters
This poster is to communicate what the object MEANS or its BENEFIT:
• Poster 5 is to be the the elected word and image with a background color
SCHEDULE
Post process on blog.
