Film Festival Design
ROLE: Graphic Designer
SCOPE: Graphic Design, Poster Design, Postcard Design, Social Media
TOOLS: Illustration, Photoshop, InDesign, Figma
DURATION: 4 weeks
About the Movie
Awards: Graphic Design -Society of Creative Excellence
Sunset Blvd. (1950) is a classic film noir directed by Billy Wilder. The story follows Joe Gillis (William Holden), a down-on-his-luck screenwriter who becomes entangled with Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), a faded silent film star living in a decaying mansion on Sunset Boulevard. Desperate for a comeback, Norma hires Joe to rewrite a script for her return to the screen. As their relationship becomes more complicated, Joe finds himself trapped in her delusional world, leading to tragic consequences. The film explores themes of fame, obsession, and the dark side of Hollywood.
Film Research
Analyzing the Movie
For this play poster design, I started with in-depth research into the play's themes and characters, presenting key story elements and main character insights. Understanding the play’s background and origins is essential, as these details will shape the final design and branding.
Creative Process
Finding Inspirations
In the initial stage, I explored various sources of inspiration, experimenting with different approaches to highlight the movie's dark and cynical undertones. A key focus was incorporating real film strips into the poster, using them as a foundation to begin developing the overall concept.
Thumbnails
Rough Sketches
In the second stage, I sketched multiple concepts, concentrating on visual hierarchy to bring the inspirations to life. One key idea was photographing actual film strips to use as a centerpiece, floating across the Hollywood Hills, with scenes from the movie embedded within them. Another crucial element was the pool scene, for which I captured a photo of a real pool to create a more authentic and immersive effect. Scattered scripts fill the water, heightening the eerie symbolism of Norma's final act. These sketches aim to convey the film's haunting atmosphere and evoke curiosity about its darker themes.
Designing
Digital Compositions
In the third stage, I moved into the digital phase, translating the strongest concepts into a cohesive visual. The film strips became a focal point, seamlessly blending into the Hollywood Hills, evoking a sense of faded glamour. For the pool scene, I carefully arranged floating scripts to intensify the uncanny vibes, symbolizing the unraveling of Norma’s reality. Through a thoughtful mix of composition, lighting, and color, the design captures the haunting allure of the film, drawing viewers into its mysterious and tragic world.
Concept 1
Concept 2
Concept 3
Refinement
The Final Poster
As I approached the final stage, I refined the poster by adjusting the angle of the film strips for a more seamless blend with the composition and enhancing the visibility of the Hollywood Hills as a stronger backdrop. I also arranged the scattered scripts to form the headline "The Final Act," highlighting the film's climax while preserving its tragic atmosphere. These adjustments ensure a visually striking design that effectively captures the essence of Sunset Boulevard.
Final Design
Film Festival Logo, “Noir Nights”
Poster Mockup
Postcard Mailer Design
Film Festival Promotion
In the postcard mailer design, I used bold serif type to bring a vintage-meets-modern feel, standing out against dark backgrounds with pops of bright orange. Film flares in the background add cinematic depth, while the ticket-shaped layout holds key festival details. Uneven shapes frame duotone visuals, amplifying the dramatic, noir-inspired contrast for a nostalgic yet fresh look.
Front of Mailer
Back of Mailer
Postcard Mockup
Social Media Design
Brand Extension
The social media design features branded type, paired with a classic noir color palette to create a sleek, minimalistic look. Each post type spotlights a different aspect of noir, from film showcases to event reminders, using strong contrasts and negative space to emphasize the drama of classic cinema. This clean, focused approach captures the essence of noir with a modern touch, drawing attention to the festival’s dark allure.
Instagram Feed Design
Facebook Feed Design