Project Overview
This project is a redux of a college-era poster design created for a local theatre production of Oedipus Rex. The original assignment asked students to design a poster for a theatrical performance, with full creative freedom over the play selection, theatre name, and visual direction. Choosing a classical work allowed for a more conceptual and expressive approach to the design.
This revisited version aims to stay true to the original concept and execution, as closely as memory allows, while presenting the work in a polished, portfolio-appropriate format.
Project Scope
- Deliverables: Vector based illustration file
- Tools
Original: Physical collage using cut glossy paper
Redux: Adobe Illustrator - Role: Designer
Original Constraints and Intent
The initial brief was intentionally open-ended, encouraging exploration rather than strict adherence to real-world requirements. As a result, the design prioritizes mood, symbolism, and composition over informational completeness.
Key aspects of the original assignment:
- Selection of a play, theatre name, and visual concept
- Emphasis on visual storytelling rather than marketing practicality
- Focus on craft and physical construction
While the poster lacks some informational components typically required for a production poster, this reflects the academic nature of the exercise and the goals of the course.
Concept and Visual Direction
Oedipus Rex is a tragedy centered on fate, identity, and inevitable consequence. The design approach leans into these themes through abstraction rather than literal narrative depiction. The poster favors strong visual contrast and symbolic form, allowing the subject matter to be felt rather than explained.
The goal was to create a piece that conveyed tension and gravitas appropriate to a classical tragedy, while remaining visually striking from a distance.
Craft and Execution
The original poster was produced at full scale, 24 × 36 inches, using cut glossy paper. Working at actual size imposed physical constraints that directly influenced layout, hierarchy, and compositional decisions.
This hands-on process emphasized:
- Precision in cutting and placement
- Awareness of negative space
- Material-driven design decisions rather than digital shortcuts
The tactile nature of the medium played a central role in the final outcome, reinforcing the connection between form, content, and execution.
Outcome
Revisiting this project highlights an early focus on concept-driven design and physical craftsmanship. While the piece does not meet modern informational standards for theatrical promotion, it succeeds as a study in visual storytelling, restraint, and intentional composition.
This redux serves both as a historical snapshot of design thinking at the time and as a reminder of the value of analog processes in shaping strong visual instincts.