Promotional mailer / miniposter designed and letterpress printed for the 2001 Portfolio Show of the Creative forum in Nashville, TN by Widgets & Stone. The 12" x 18" flat poster folded down to 6"x9" to mail.

 

The design is based on the idea of the Portfolio Show being showcase for visual masters (designers, printers, illustrators, photographers) and so the theme of a 19th century magic show was implemented. Actual phrases and magic effects from old posters were utilized. The interior design featured a glow-in-the-dark design too.

Detail of the back of the mail side of the promotion describing the event.

Above is a detail of an actual "magic" trick created by Robert Houdin. Type is stretched in an anamorphic manner, then laid on top of other type at 45 degree angles — appearing like gobblydegook. However, when the art is tilted away from the reader at an extreme angle, the type becomes suddenly legible (see below).

The inside has a glow-in-the-dark poster, letterpress printed.

This is a detail of an actual illustration from an old magic show poster — renamed to "Terrible Client Torture Trap" to fit the work experience of a production professional.

This is a detail of an actual illustration from an old magic show poster — renamed to "Great Idea on a Limited Budget" to fit the work experience of a production professional.

Design, Concept, Letterpress Printing: Paul Rustand.