Sarah and The Sundays Process
Designing an interactive poster was an enlightening journey for me, teaching me valuable lessons in time management, patience, and the importance of play. Unlike my usual approach, which involves jumping straight from sketching to digital design, this project encouraged me to explore different materials and textures, allowing me to delve deeper into the creative process.
The initial step was selecting a band or artist to feature on the poster. Instead of making a quick decision, I first considered the style of design I wanted to pursue. I thought about whether I wanted a more upbeat or slower tempo design, contemplating themes or ideas that resonated with me. After spending a few hours listening to music with my headphones on, I discovered Sarah and the Sundays, whose sounds deeply connected with me.
To better understand the band, I conducted research by listening to their music and analyzing interviews. I wanted to identify their influences, both in terms of sound and themes. Artists like the Beatles were mentioned, and I learned that their second album explored themes of growth, change, and evolution.
Inspired by the band's style, I created mood boards, each capturing a different feeling and art style. One board was influenced by summer and teenage angst, another by surrealism, and the final one by 1970s interior design and patterns that I felt resonated with the band.
Sketching was an enjoyable process, especially when designing the typography. I envisioned letters flowing into each other, mirroring the flow of 70s patterns and resembling the motion of a lava lamp. To add texture, I experimented with string, crafting letters out of it. I also sketched ideas for the poster itself, aiming for a circular form reminiscent of a clock, which I felt would complement the song "Take Your Time."
The most enjoyable part of the process was the hands-on experimentation with different textures, patterns, and materials. Visiting a reclaimed art store with a friend, I was captivated by the variety of textures and the stories behind the printed photos I found there. I decided to incorporate these photos into my design, giving the poster a scrapbook-like feeling that captured the essence of the passage of time. I also purchased a calendar with interesting fonts and then incorporated them into my design.
After completing the sketches, I moved on to prototyping, focusing on texture and interactive elements. I tested how colors printed, how to capture fabric textures, and how to integrate my typography into the design. For the interactive element, I envisioned a clock that would open to reveal a scrapbook of photos of people.
Finally, I translated these elements into a digital design. My classmates and professor suggested that the hands of the clock should move, which I incorporated into the design. After creating two physical mock-ups and making numerous prints and adjustments, I arrived at the result.
Throughout the process, the design evolved gradually. Many elements were added, removed, or repurposed as the design developed. I am grateful that I started working on the project well in advance, allowing me the time to play with physical materials and mock-
