Play Poster
ROLE: Graphic Designer
SCOPE: Graphic Design, Poster Design
TOOLS: Illustration, Photoshop & ProCreate
DURATION: 2 weeks
About the Play
Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon is a romantic comedy that follows newlyweds Corie and Paul Bratter as they adjust to married life in a small, quirky New York City apartment. The energetic and free-spirited Corie clashes with her straight-laced, conservative husband, leading to humorous and heartfelt moments as they navigate the challenges of love and compromise. The play captures the charm and chaos of young love and the importance of embracing each other's differences.
Play Analysis
Analyzing, & Researches
For this play poster design, I began with detailed research into the play's themes and characters through a presentation to highlight the key points of the story, alongside the main characters. It is important to understand the background of the play and its origin which can later impact our design.
Creative Process
Sketching, Analyzing, & Researches
For the next stage, I sketched multiple concepts, experimenting with hierarchy to emphasize the romantic and humorous elements of the story. The key aspect of the poster is to find a catchphrase that introduces the concept and sparks excitement and curiosity about where the story will lead, creating a compelling first impression.
Branding
Type Design, Color Palette, Refining
For the branding, I plan to use retro warm colors in order to create a design that feels both timeless and inviting. The phrase "two steps forward, two steps back" guided the overall layout, emphasizing the couple's journey through their relationship's ups and downs. The final design combines vintage aesthetics with a playful touch, capturing the essence of the play. Inspired by the elegance of the “Rafaella” font, I look into type manipulation and apply it to the catchphrase. While reading the phrase over, I thought of staircases which can also be represented as “steps” or “stages” we would have in a relationship.
Refinement
Iterations of Layouts & Typography (Adobe Illustrator, ProCreate & Adobe Photoshop)
Next, I began making a variety of versions to test, sketching out the concept, and switching between different softwares. I designed the type so that the letters would integrate seamlessly. One of the challenges I was facing was hierarchy, as we were also considering the placement of secondary elements after. The concept behind my type is retro-romance while ensuring that is legible and elevated on the poster. I am mainly inspired by the 3D paper texture of the overall elements.
Final Poster
For the final concept, I added a folded-paper texture within the sunset gradient background. Additionally, I also add in my secondary elements and other information that compliments the feel of a play poster when viewing. Furthermore, I went back and played around with different effects, focusing on the drop shadow on the typography and elements to help elevate the poster and appear realistic. Finally, I added paper-cut hearts to compliment the overall theme of the play poster.
Before adding texture & effects
After adding texture & effects