Beneath the Surface Portfolio Poster

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Mockup Credit: Graphberry

Lead the Reader & Attract the Desired Audience

A presentation is only a glimpse into the amound of work and creativity injected into a project. An iceberg is an effective promotion because most of its majesty lies beneath the surface. Much like an iceberg, most of the beauty and depth of a presentation cannot be seen without looking deeper. Portfolio Review showcases various works from the business, graphic design, and visual communications departments at Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Visitors are able to get an inside look at the process behind these amazing projects. The iceberg communicates the abstract nature of the creative process while remaining a broad enough idea that anyone can relate to it.

Overall, this poster should lead the reader through the information, hold their attention, and encourage them to attend the portfolio review. A professional impression is imperative, while keeping the subject matter interesting and engaging.

Sketches

I began with many concrete ideas pertaining to design and art. Gradually, I branched off to more abstract concepts. These can be seen to the right in the photo above, as I explored ideas like nature, patriotism, cartoons, animals, and more. The top right corner contains my first iceberg, which would eventually become my final idea. I chose to take this route to encompass not only the art students, but the business students as well.

Roughs

Then, I completed a series of roughs expanding upon my initial concepts. These client-ready roughs were evaluated by various groups of people including peers and supervisors. After many rounds of evaluation, 2 of these ideas were chosen for a final round of proofs.

Final Proofs

Finally, I expanded upon 2 concepts: a fishbowl vs. an iceberg. The fishbowl symbolizes growth and expansion, very much in the spirit of Portfolio Review. However, I felt it lacked the color and expressiveness of the iceberg. Both proofs were created in pencil and colored pencil, with the addition of acrylic paint on the iceberg. I continued the artwork for the iceberg poster by scanning my proof before penciling in the text. This proof was the base drawing for my
final piece.

A larger version of this gif can be viewed here.

Digital Painting & Enhancements

After completing the proof in colored pencil and acrylic paint, I continued to paint within Paint Tool Sai using a Wacom Intuous tablet. I chose to utilize both methods because art supplies such as paint add texture and depth to the work. Digital painting then enhances the design by refining edges and adding contrast.