BRIEF
The goal of this project was to create a visually appealing and informative 18" x 24" infographic and instructional poster focused on a particular subject. By incorporating design elements like typography, hierarchy, and grids, the objective was to craft a captivating poster that effectively leads the viewer through the necessary steps.
CHALLENGE
With the goal of creating a fun and engaging poster, I chose the subject of "How to Decorate Your Home Like a Whimsigoth." The main inspiration for this poster comes from the whimsigoth aesthetic, which is a fashion and interior design style that combines both gothic and whimsical elements.
This infographic proved to be more challenging than most, because instead of drawing original graphics, I wanted to feature photographic examples of interior design concepts to really relay the infographic points to the viewer. I scoured the internet for images that were used at the height of this aesthetic and built my tips for interior design around these photos. To draw the viewer in, I decided to incorporate a splash graphic, which infused the poster with this witch-inspired theme I was going for. This helped me create a connection to the informative aspects of the whimsigoth aesthetic without the content being too bland or boring.
ROLE
Visual Design, Illustrations, Vector Graphics
TOOLS
Adobe Illustrator, Procreate
TEAM
Solo Designer
WHY
School Project
BRAINSTORMING AND RESEARCH
Before starting the design process, I created a moodboard to gather inspiration for my poster. I drew inspiration from various scenes of including 90s “witchy” Hollywood media like Charmed and Practical Magic to drive my designs, as well as other infographic posters to see different ways of laying out text and content. Additionally, I did extensive research on interior design principles and how they are specifically applied to the whimsigoth aesthetic. I utilized all of these inspirations as a reference when making decisions on typography, layout, and overall design for my poster.
SKETCHES
Sketches played a crucial role at the start of the design process, as they helped me plan how all the content would be laid out. Initially, I was viewing the graphics and information as two separate entities, which hindered the flow of information. Eventually, I decided to create three groupings of information and placed a greater emphasis on incorporating these design elements with the photos I chose to display. After spending time refining my sketch, I decided on colors to be used in the final design.
PROCESS
After refining my sketch, I moved on to designing the poster digitally. While I retained the majority of the elements from my sketch, I made the decision to frame each photo in an ornate frame, and have the photos mimic a "gallery wall", which is a common element for maximalist interior design. Throughout the design process, I continued to add more graphic components to enhance the whimsical and otherworldly theme associated with this design aesthetic. Additionally, I paid close attention to detail in order to elevate the overall final design.
FINAL POSTER
For the final poster, I placed a strong emphasis on hierarchy, ensuring that the title is read first, followed by the introduction paragraph, and then the three groupings. To make the content visually appealing and eye-catching, I incorporated graphics surrounding the three groupings that matched the ornate ambiance of the picture frames. This also helped to clarify each step in the process. To push the poster design further, I added small details throughout that emphasize mystical elements, such as the border design and the layered geometric shapes behind the crystal glass.
CLOSEUPS
REFLECTION
Overall, it was a great learning experience to work on combining typography and graphics in a layout that will inform people. It was enjoyable to experiment with typography and design elements for one of my favorite movies. I learned a lot about hierarchy and how information should be organized to ensure that they are on different levels. The project also helped me think more deeply about how to design certain themes in ways that can enhance content.
