Designing a Movie Poster for a REAL Client | Graphic Design

Designing a Movie Poster: Process and Insights

Initial Client Interaction

• An up-and-coming director contacted the speaker to design a movie poster for his indie film, leading to weeks of concept calls and design work.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of initial client calls over emails to capture essential details that can streamline the design process.

• During the first call with director Jason, they discussed the vision for the poster and shared initial references related to both the poster and movie themes.

Understanding Themes and Aesthetics

• The movie titled "Silk Screen Arcadia" revolves around two girls stealing an Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe painting, aiming for a festival run as an indie film.

• Key themes include power dynamics in old Hollywood; however, there was a conscious decision to avoid mimicking Andy Warhol's style due to recent negative reception of similar works.

• The focus was on clean typography, simple colors, and edited images while avoiding clichés prevalent in current Hollywood posters.

Research and Concept Development

• After the initial call, research began with mood boarding using inspiration from old book covers and Japanese movie posters.

• The client’s desire for a non-traditional approach led to exploring various styles instead of typical floating head designs seen in many modern posters.

• Three distinct styles were proposed: framing style inspired by classic films, collage cutout reminiscent of spaghetti western aesthetics, and pop art silk screen techniques.

Feedback and Direction

• Jason provided feedback through a video response which helped clarify his preferences; he chose the framing concept focusing on lead actress Reina with a grunge aesthetic.

• Challenges arose in sourcing high-quality still images featuring Reina prominently enough for effective poster design.

Photo Shoot Collaboration

• To resolve image quality issues, Jason arranged a photo shoot with actress Reina; this pause allowed time for capturing suitable visuals.

• Upon receiving high-quality photos post-shoot, excitement grew about moving forward with designing now that better resources were available.

Design Execution

Designing with Purpose: The Creative Process

Initial Design Concepts

• The design process began with experimenting on different framed layouts, focusing on bold styles and a simple square container.

• A standout photo of Reina was chosen for its representation of power and a hint of craziness, becoming central to the initial concepts.

• The designer gravitated towards a threshold effect with grainy texture for image manipulation, which had previously garnered interest from Jason during discussions.

• Balancing stylistic contrast while retaining facial details proved challenging but essential in the editing process.

Experimentation and Iteration

• On day two, the designer explored various layouts incorporating colors inspired by a Maryland painting while ensuring all ideas were considered to avoid missing potential gems.

• Some compositions were scrapped entirely; however, experimentation led to valuable insights that influenced the final product.

• Emphasizing Bob Ross's philosophy, "we don't make mistakes; we have happy accidents," highlighted the importance of creative exploration in achieving successful designs.

Finalizing Concepts

• By the end of day two, a solid foundation for the final concept emerged, featuring halftone images and well-aligned title headings.

• The designer expressed gratitude for choosing graphic design as a career path and introduced Skillshare as a supportive resource for creative growth.

Skillshare Integration

• Skillshare was highlighted as beneficial for diversifying business strategies and enhancing creativity through classes on time management and turning creativity into careers.

• Specific classes like customizing type helped improve logo types in client work and overall typography skills.

Refining Designs

• Returning to design work, focus shifted to refining main concepts while maintaining simplicity in color schemes (black/white or black/cream).

• A new concept was developed using negative space inspired by Maryland themes alongside halftone techniques that emphasized compositionally relevant placements of titles.

• Moving titles to the top improved visual flow by aligning with Reina's gaze upward, reinforcing themes of power pursuit.

Conceptual Development

• Three primary concepts were narrowed down: halftone variations with overlapping colors, simplified versions reminiscent of old Hollywood posters, and an Andy Warhol-inspired Marilyn Monroe concept despite initial hesitance from the director.

• Incorporating printing techniques added texture to designs; slight adjustments enhanced contrast without compromising quality.

Design Presentation Process and Client Feedback

Narrowing Down Design Options

• The designer aimed to reduce decision fatigue for the client by narrowing down options to three cohesive yet distinct designs.

• A simple presentation was created in InDesign, focusing on a clean layout, mock-ups for context, and brief methodologies explaining design choices.

• The first design featured a halftone effect symbolizing the lead actress's pursuit of power, with a stripped-back color palette that echoed silk screen printing techniques.

Presenting Mock-Ups and Concepts

• The second option utilized an abstract approach to avoid negative associations with a previous biopic while maintaining the Maryland color palette.

• The third design was more abstract, incorporating creepy elements from the film with an inverted printed look to enhance its thematic depth.

Client Interaction and Decision-Making

• After presenting the designs, there was anxiety about waiting for client feedback; this is often one of the most stressful parts of the process.

• Fortunately, feedback came quickly; the client expressed love for both the halftone concept and the Marilyn Monroe concept but needed further narrowing down.

Validation and Final Choice

• Receiving prompt feedback alleviated stress; validation from clients reinforces confidence in one's work after significant effort put into designs.