Objective
To create at least one poster to communicate the meaning of a person's work contribution, with typography and play at the core of its composition. Final poster size: 23.35" x 33"
SUBJECT
Nikki Giovanni (1943-2024) was a revolutionary author, teacher, and activist for social justice, equality, and, most importantly, love. As a queer Black woman growing up in Cincinnati in a time where her voice was silenced, the most powerful thing she could do was to publish words that history can't erase. Through her own experiences, she lived to proudly tell stories that keep finding new light. An excerpt from her poem "Resignation" reads:
" I love you
because no two snowflakes are alike
and it is possible if you stand tippy-toe
to walk between the raindrops".
EXPLORATION
Adventures in physical media helped me loosen up from the digital routine of design and connect my concept to the tactile world Nikki Giovanni shared through her books.
REFINEMENT
Through free play I was able to discover renditions of the snowflake poem that guided my next iterations. Using light and paper not only as supplies but as symbolic ties to Nikki Giovanni's identity and personal history.
FINAL POSTERS
Ultimately I created two posters to portray the same concept, prioritizing different compositional paths. One striving to make a symmetric yet dynamic typographic composition and one reflecting asymmetry and abstraction. Connected by similar color palettes and textural elements, these posters create a dynamic set to bring Nikki Giovanni's words come to life and take up space as they were intended.
