Objective
Create a sequence of posters that represent four different states using typography and illustration. Each poster must be designed to share visual consistency without including the state(s) name or shape.
Technology
Adobe Illustrator
Research
The challenge of this case study was to design state posters that people could clearly identify the state without having the name or outline of the state present. I narrowed down the 50 states to four states known for their beaches. The top four states that come to mind when I think of the beach are Rhode Island, Florida, Hawaii and South Carolina. I decided to stick with colors found at the beach. I researched objects that best represented the states, and then I got to sketching.
Sketches
Rhode Island– “The Ocean State; Little Rhody”
Rhode Island is known not only for being the smallest state but for their beautiful beaches. Tourists flock to New England to visit places such as Newport, Jamestown, Narragansett and Providence. Many tourists visit Newport, for the food, scenery and beaches. One way to get to Newport is to travel on the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge. In Narragansett, there are ferries to catch and beaches to lay out but the Point Judith Lighthouse. This lighthouse uses a whistle instead of a horn to alarm captains of fog.
Florida – “The Sunshine State; Beaches and Fun”
Known for the Everglades and Disney World, Florida has 825 miles of beaches that tourists can walk along. People flock to Florida to soak up the sun and have some fun!
Hawaii – “The Aloha State; Islands of Aloha”
Hawaii is a group of volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean. The Islands are known for their volcanos, cliffs, waterfalls and beaches filled with different colored sand including black! Hawaii welcomes visitors with flowers and tranquil beaches. Each island offers a different and unique experience to everyone who visits.
South Carolina – “The Palmetto State; Beautiful Places”
South Carolina is known for a shoreline of subtropical beaches, golf courses, historic towns and a vacation city. Tourists can visit plantations in Charlestown, vacation at Myrtle Beach or golf at one of the 360 courses in the Palmetto State.
Font Choice – “Caviar Dreams”
The four posters had to share visual consistency even with typography. I chose the sans serif font, Caviar Dreams, because I found it to be elegant yet bold. There is something about this font that can be used in almost any graphic design.
Conclusions
This case study shows the importance of visual communication through digital illustration and typography. Each illustration used similar typography and colors to connect the four posters together. The state name may not be on the poster, but the strong iconic features of each state can be identified by any viewer.
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