WEST UNION: CIDERPALOOZA POSTER
OBJECTIVE
The poster for the indie band’s upcoming show at Ciderpalooza showcases the band’s unique identity while clearly highlighting key details like the date, time, and location. It blends the band’s distinct voice with visually engaging design, ensuring the information is both compelling and easy to read for potential attendees.
Eric, Samma, Josh, Liam
PERSONALITY
West Union, previously Buzzard Roost, formed in August 2019 by Eric, Samma, Josh, and Liam, and was rooted in collaboration and friendship. Their debut album, "On the Run," captures the band’s heartfelt personality, exploring themes of longing and escape while reflecting their connection to meaningful places through a cohesive and nostalgic sound.
CORPORATE ASSETS
The first two images show West Union's band logo, followed by buzzard claw and smiley face graphics. The band provided these assets at the beginning of this poster project and requested that a logo and at least one of the graphics be included in the design.
West Union incorporates these typefaces into its design suite to reflect the grungy, alternative energy of its music and identity. For brand consistency, the same typefaces were used in the poster's typography.
RESEARCH
The band was inspired by the work of Eric Timothy Carlson (shown above), the artist behind Bon Iver's album art, and wanted their poster to capture similar themes and visuals. The design aimed to blend Carlson's distinctive style with the band's music and personality.
DIGITAL ITERATIONS
COLOR/TYPOGRAPHY/TEXTURE
Experimentation with various type styles involved exploring monospaced and statement display typefaces to capture the band's alternative and gritty expression. The fonts provided by the band were also tested and refined to complement their distinctive aesthetic.
The color scheme was shaped by the band's vibrant palette of orange, pink, green, and yellow, capturing their alternative and artistic musical expression. To reflect Bon Iver’s minimalist and moody style, black and white were included, introducing a layer of depth to the overall design.
Textures were utilized to soften the clean lines established by the vectors and to blend and blur the design elements, enhancing its overall depth and visual interest.
REFINED ITERATIONS
The design evolution greatly improves hierarchy and legibility. Initially, 'West Union' is too bold, overshadowing 'Ciderpalooza,' which should be the focal point. In later versions, 'West Union' is scaled down using their brand’s fluid script, allowing the event name to take center stage.
The image of the chair in the forest introduces unnecessary mystery, and the overall busyness compromises readability. The black background feels too harsh, flattening the design and losing the youthfulness of the band’s identity. As the design transitions to organic textures, the background softens, adding depth and improving legibility while maintaining strong contrast, resulting in a more balanced and engaging visual identity.
FINAL
