Transcript of Recording:
Hi, hello and welcome. My presentation today will be focusing on my chosen subject of Musical Broadway Productions. The purpose behind this work, is to create three distinct Broadway brochures or programmes showcasing the individual shows and their aesthetics. My audience is aimed heavily towards people between the ages of 16-35 with keen interests in music or musical theatre.
Typographical Branding Page
My first steps in this project was to set about creating 3 landscape A4 typographical pages. In the early stages of this assignment, after reading through the brief. I knew that I wanted to showcase three DIFFERENT Broadway shows. I felt this would have a better chance at demonstrating my understanding of the core concepts. Knowing my plan, it made it quite difficult when creating these pages. In an ideal world, I’d have produced 3 per show and showcased colour palettes and branding ideas at an earlier stage. However, working within the brief, I feel these pages are still an excellent starting point.
I chose to include early ideas for imaging as well as unique elements such as QR codes, to help establish my vision early on. I also designed each page in the colours and theme that I wanted to carry-on into the finished pages and covers. When it came to typography, I tried to keep each font as era appropriate as possible or at the very least, inspired by the original shows branding.
Logos
Moving on to my logo designs and straight away I’d like to address that yes, I did do more then I needed to. Like I stated in my blog post, my primary reasoning behind this was that I wanted to explore several interests. This was one of favourite stages in this project, as I got to have a lot of fun with it.
My first logo of Silly Little Goose is quite honestly the daftist thing I’ve ever created, and I love it! It perfectly captures the child in me, whilst still actually looking like a brand logo. If only it had been more subject appropriate and I’d of had a winner.
As for the finished logo, I am happy I chose to change my direction. Wicked is one of my favourite shows and one I’ve actually had the pleasure of seeing on Broadway. I feel this adds a more personal touch to the design, and I’m glad I took my peers advice when it came to adding the extra bubble illustrations.
Informational Pages
When it came to creating the informational pages, I was so thankful for feedback. I chose to create rough sketches to demonstrate both my layouts and illustrations. This helped a ton. Allowing people to tell me what they felt didn’t work right off the bat.
Changing the gun design for Hamilton, was probably the biggest adjustment I made in the early stages and I’m so glad I did. I think having an era appropriate weapon, really enhances the finished pages and makes the whole design more legible and easier to translate.
Not overcrowding the Beetlejuice design was another good call. Looking at the finished piece, your eyes are allowed to follow the flow of the Sandworm and read each body text with ease. I also like how it allows people to actual appreciate the illustration a bit more, instead of focusing on production images.
Initial Designs
Before moving into the final pieces, I would like to address the fact that I didn’t do the compositional grids. This was in part because I didn’t realise I had to, and also because I’d already created rough design sketches that highlighted the page layouts in a grid like fashion. Honestly, I didn’t feel like it needed it, as the sketches demonstrated my layout ideas well enough and should be seen as an appropriate variation.
Three Cover Designs
Wrapping up my project, I’m very happy with how my three covers turned out.
In terms of peer feedback, Heathers was an excellent example of trusting your gut. Whilst I know it’s important to hear feedback, especially in a professional situation, I feel it’s equally as valid to trust your artistic integrity. Is the poster design for Heathers perfect, by no means, but I think that is more due to my unwillingness to buy fonts, then it is towards the design. The cover is still incredibly legible, and I would still say its in-keeping with the shows style.
On the opposite side of the coin, I am grateful for the feedback I received for Beetlejuice. As, like I said in my blog, it not only saved this design, but elevated it. Adding an additional leg, and a more feminine shape, really added a completely new dimension to this design. And I’m incredibly grateful that I was able to hear not only positive feedback, but honest ones too.
Conclusion
Overall, I really enjoyed working on this project and I feel that reflects in my work. Despite sometimes feeling limited by the brief, I still feel as though you can see my passion behind my pieces. In hindsight, there are elements I would change, but only minor ones, such as, you know, actually buying that font. Other then this, I hope you enjoyed seeing what I could do, and I hope it met your expectations for the brief. Thank you.
References:
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- cove703 (2025) James Stroker Font. https://www.dafont.com/james-stroker.font?fpp=100&psize=l&text=Lipstick [Accessed 3 Jan 2025]
- fontbolt (2025) Beetlejuice Font Generator- Free Download. https://www.fontbolt.com/font/beetlejuice-font/ [Accessed 3 Jan 2025]
- Paul Renner (1927) Futura in Use. https://fontsinuse.com/typefaces/4/futura [Accessed 3 Jan 2025]
- Adobe (2025) Free Online QR Code Generator. https://www.adobe.com/express/feature/image/qr-code-generator?gclid=CjwKCAiA34S7BhAtEiwACZzv4XBO3TfxrPDhw_ogF8wDUjNgV0JBL0cilBvSEM05A1v0TzcyBSlX2xoCfeMQAvD_BwE&mv=search&mv2=paidsearch&sdid=88X75GP8&ef_id=CjwKCAiA34S7BhAtEiwACZzv4XBO3TfxrPDhw_ogF8wDUjNgV0JBL0cilBvSEM05A1v0TzcyBSlX2xoCfeMQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!3085!3!718111565734!b!!g!!custom%20qr%20code%20generator!21452545372!170096922451&gad_source=1 [Accessed 3 Jan 2025]
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- Pamela Raith (2019) First Look: Production Photos of ‘Heathers the Musical’. https://theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/heathers-production-photos/ [Accessed 3 Jan 2025]
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- firstnightmagazine (2025) heather-the-musical-at-sohoplace-cast-image-6. https://firstnightmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/heathers-the-musical-at-sohoplace-cast-image-6.jpg [Accessed 3 Jan 2025]
- Jakob Fischer (2025) Hand Soup Font. https://www.dafont.com/hand-soup.font [Accessed 3 Jan 2025]
- Måns Grebäck (2025) Last Christmas Font. https://www.dafont.com/last-christmas.font [Accessed 3 Jan 2025]