Subcultures
Sneakerheads
We covered many different kinds of subcultures in my third year, which is when I did the project. I was inspired on sneakerheads because they are a thing not just in South Africa but around the world. To play with the language of the subculture, we had to employ typography. Just so people could understand, I wanted to add some South African lingo. With this project, we were required to collect "sayings" or "phrases" that only members of the sneakerhead subculture would comprehend, and typography played a part in that.
One could say that the local sneaker scene is at its peak right now. Sneakers continue to be more than just the shoes people wear for comfort and convenience thanks to contemporary societal advancements that have made it simpler to convert interests into careers, turn nicknames into brands, and more. (Shabalala, 2022 ) A set of sneakers may serve as an extension of one's identity and a means of expression for some people.
We are able to see how other sneakerheads around the world are advancing and expanding their culture because social media makes it simpler for us to interact with people in other countries.
Today, it's clear how much of an impact the global shoe culture has had on us over the years. For the release of limited editions, we used to camp outside the shop, but now we have to join raffles online. This might be the result of the thriving culture adjusting to more contemporary business practices based on technological advancements as well as a way to give everyone an equal chance at getting their hands on these shoes. (Shabalala, 2022 )
Process Work
The subculture of "sneakerheads" was a fun topic to explore for me as a designer who enjoys shoes and believes that it supports an outfit. At the bottom of the poster are examples of the words that explain the context of the sayings. I used both UK and South African slang for sneakerheads. I wanted the sneaker boxes to be displayed on each poster in a different way; nonetheless, I also wanted to maintain the series' consistency. The poster's background colors all coordinate with other posters' typography. Since the main goal of this project was typography. I added the textures because I wanted it to appear like graffiti on a brick wall.
This subculture project allowed me to be very creative with my designs, which is why it's one of my favorite projects from my third year. I've always wanted to have a design that was cool and edgy. When I am able to put the posters together, I use a different color palette for each one. I am delighted that the posters all work together to create a cohesive look. One would also notice that the font on each poster has a different shape. I believe I was able to achieve my goal of making my posters modern and trendy.
