For this project, I needed to create an Absolut Vodka poster using a range of initial ideas and ongoing development to those ideas. This project reflects on the usage of visual metaphors as a powerful means of expression.

Decent examples of Absolut Posters can be found in the 2 mood boards below.

All of the examples shown above are from www.absolutad.com

I like the posters using the scenery and objects to interpret the vodka bottle as it is a less obvious means to promote a brand of vodka in comparison to other campaigns. It shows thoughts outside the box to communicate and relate whilst remaining visually thoughtful and relevant to the product.

I've included other examples because I think they use clever visuals to interpret the metaphor used on the poster. I especially like the Absolut Topless, Absolut Gentleman and Absolut Secret examples as they are minimally edited from the standard Absolut poster but are clever examples of visually interpreting the metaphor.

During the project briefing, I was given 2 letters in which to generate ideas to use for the Absolut poster. I was given 'W' and 'E'

From that point, I'd noted down some early ideas to be used for visual metaphors in the poster. These can be found above.

Above are some sketches of initial ideas for my poster layout. Whilst some of them were too literal to take forward into development, (as also thought by my lecturer Richard,) the remainder could be produced digitally. Along the development stage, I'd also thought of new ideas to portray and submitted Jpegs of these.

Taking inspiration from British and American dead end signs, I've superimposed the vodka bottle onto the signs to create Absolut Ending.

After some deliberation on how to proceed further with the idea of using the eight ball, my lecturer and I thought the idea of the eight ball on a table would be stronger than having the ball floating on the standard Absolut background. It also gives the impression that the ball is 'in play.'

This has led to the idea of creating the Absolut Break visual, using the 1 letter wildcard I could use.

Whilst thinking of ideas, it came to me that chameleons use camouflage to blend into their surroundings to fool animals that threaten them.

This defensive technique to look like their habitat was the inspiration for creating Absolut Wannabe.

I wanted to try and improve the Absolut Wannabe poster a bit further as I feel it's one of my stronger ideas. I have experimented with a rainforest background, the natural habitat of a chameleon.

I have also used a lighter Absolut bottle to appear more natural in the sunlight. I have also used layering for parts of the grass covering the bottom of the bottle to make it appear more grounded and work with the image.

Using this screenshot from The Matrix, it occured to me that coding is used to encrypt data from thieves. An interpretation of coding could be rows of linear text whilst different coloured code could be used to highlight something, in this case, a vodka bottle.

This was the idea behind Absolut Encryption.

Absolut Encryption is one of my stronger images and my lecturer Richard agreed. To try and improve the image further, I have 'filled' the bottles completely by highlighting all of the code making up the bottle instead of just the outline. I have also included several smaller, to scale bottles on the page and added small amounts to the vertical code.