DVB102 Image Design and Production
Week 4 Images (16-20)
#oneperday2023
Images 16 - 20: Persuasive Posters
In this exercise students explore the power of persuasive imagery and how visual stimulus can evoke emotion. Students were to select an environmental or sustainability issue they were passionate about and create a poster using explored techniques to inspire change.
Materials
A4 paper, pencil, watercolour pencils, fine line pen, white pigment ink pen, magazine paper, cardboard, PVA glue
Techniques
Drawing, Sketching, Shading, Hatching, Colouring, Collage
Process
First, environmental and sustainability issues I was passionate about and require real world change were explored (See Figure 1 below). After researching and brainstorming, 3 significant world wide issues were selected and motivational/rhetorical imagery regarding these issues was drafted (See Figure 2 and Figure 3). Finally, 2 drafts were recreated using both colouring and collage to create motivational posters that inspire action (See Figure 4 and Figure 5).
Figure 1: Environmental and Sustainability Issue Brainstorming
Figure 2: Persuasive/Rhetorical Imagery Brainstorming
Figure 3: Persuasive Poster Drafts
Reflection
After brainstorming numerous issues it was concluded the most significant and immediate environmental and global issues were Global Warming, Deforestation and the Consumption of Fossil Fuels. These issues were then investigated and information regarding these issues was manipulated to create emotionally evoking rhetorical imagery. I concluded while drafting that humour and guilt were the most powerful emotions manipulated to inspire change and as a result, posters were drafted to utilise these these feelings. For global warming, I wanted to create a humourous and relatable poster that depicted a beverage without ice, insinuating that because of global warming there was none remaining. Alternatively, when drafting for deforestation and for fossil fuels I wanted to manipulate guilt and personify the actions illustrated in the Images. For deforestation, an tree trunk is depicted bleeding after being attacked with an axe, illustrating that the tree is a victim of a merciless crime. For fossil fuels I decided to modify a necessity for life (water) and change it to an oil canister, expressing that human life requires fossil fuels in a sinister manner. While I was pleased with the result of all persuasive poster drafts, I concluded that the global warming poster and the deforestation poster were the most intuitive and powerful.
Strength
Manipulating rhetorical imagery to evoke emotion, inform the reader of the present global issues and inspire change
Challenge
Creating numerous innovative and powerful ideas and images rapidly. Brainstorming was an extremely time consuming process which will hopefully improve over time
Figure 4: Persuasive Poster Global Warming Drawing
Figure 5: Persuasive Poster Deforestation Collage
Reflection
I found recreating my favourite persuasive poster drafts enjoyable and am ultimately proud of the results. When recreating the global warming poster I wanted the image to resemble a beverage and a melting ice glacier as accurately as possible to ensure the message was clear. As a result I decided to sketch and draw the subject using realism accompanied with a succinct, direct and informative message. I was not confident drawing in a realistic manner as this has been a drawing style I have struggled with in the past. However, I believe the subject appears as intended and am more confident in my skills after creating this image. For the deforestation poster I intentionally chose to use a collage technique as I felt torn paper was a subtle and suitable way to represent the topic. Using brown, torn magazine paper I created bark strips which would form together to create the trunk to the tree. I then layered torn, beige magazine paper, as well as white and grey cardboard to form the axe. Finally, I dropped dark red acrylic paint onto the axe and tree intersection and let it drip dry to form what would be the blood pouring out from the tree. I believe the personification of the tree enhances the meaning behind the persuasive poster, causing it to evoke more emotion.
Strength
Using acquired materials, techniques and skills to create forms and figures that resemble real world objects. Creating provocative imagery with powerful hidden meaning.
Challenge
Creating realistic images using pen and pencil in the style of realism. This is a style I hope to improve at in the future.
Weekly Reflection
This weeks exercises allowed me to explore alternative methods for creating and understand the power of images, the emotion they can evoke and the action they can inspire. Having to brainstorm numerous solutions rapidly helped me explore unconventional ideas and allowed me to improve my ability to iterate. I hope to further improve my ability to think unconventionally, as well as my ability to create powerful imagery in the style of realism and using alternative imagery development techniques.
