Project Description
I designed a printed brochure for Awakening, a Cleveland Institute of Art runway show featuring student work across multiple media. The event centered on the theme of transition from darkness to light, symbolizing renewal and emergence at the end of the pandemic. The visual direction called for a design inspired by key elements of the Baroque era.
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Tools
Adobe Photoshop • Adobe Illustrator • Adobe After Effects
Adobe Photoshop • Adobe Illustrator • Adobe After Effects
User
The Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) is a private college of art and design. The primary audience included event attendees, students, faculty, and members of the public attending the runway show.
The Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) is a private college of art and design. The primary audience included event attendees, students, faculty, and members of the public attending the runway show.
Problem
CIA needed a program brochure that visually reflected the emotional and thematic tone of the show while also nodding to Baroque artistic influences. The piece needed to feel elegant, dramatic, and appropriate for a fashion-forward, fine arts event.
CIA needed a program brochure that visually reflected the emotional and thematic tone of the show while also nodding to Baroque artistic influences. The piece needed to feel elegant, dramatic, and appropriate for a fashion-forward, fine arts event.
Needs
The client required a brochure design that:
The client required a brochure design that:
• Referenced Baroque-era visual motifs • Communicated the show’s theme of transformation and renewal • Felt elevated and appropriate for a runway setting •Functioned clearly as an informational event program
Process
I began by researching symbolism, ornamentation, and color palettes associated with the Baroque era. From this research, I developed a custom floral motif illustration using rich reds and deep blues reminiscent of Baroque painting and textiles.
After completing the brochure layout, I brought the illustration into Photoshop to manipulate lighting and texture, creating the effect of light passing through the florals. This visual treatment tied directly into the show’s concept of emerging from darkness into light.
Typography was developed in close collaboration with the client. The design direction specified a script font for the title to enhance the elegance of the piece. After exploring several options, we selected Altesse Std. To further connect the typography to the runway theme, I applied a subtle satin-like texture to the title treatment, referencing the sheen and movement of silk fabrics featured in the show.
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Skills
Editorial layout design • historical visual research • illustration • texture • lighting effects in Photoshop • typography pairing • client collaboration
Editorial layout design • historical visual research • illustration • texture • lighting effects in Photoshop • typography pairing • client collaboration
Roadblocks
The main challenge was balancing ornate, historically inspired visuals with modern readability. Careful hierarchy, spacing, and contrast were used to ensure the brochure remained functional as an event program while still feeling rich and decorative.
The main challenge was balancing ornate, historically inspired visuals with modern readability. Careful hierarchy, spacing, and contrast were used to ensure the brochure remained functional as an event program while still feeling rich and decorative.
Project Assessment
This project highlighted how historical art references can be adapted into contemporary design for live events. It reinforced the importance of aligning visual atmosphere with event themes while maintaining clear communication.
This project highlighted how historical art references can be adapted into contemporary design for live events. It reinforced the importance of aligning visual atmosphere with event themes while maintaining clear communication.
Solution
The final design was produced as a bi-fold program distributed to all runway show attendees. The brochure combined Baroque-inspired illustration, dramatic lighting effects, and elegant typography to create a piece that felt both theatrical and refined.
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Impact
The brochure enhanced the overall event experience by reinforcing the show’s emotional narrative and providing attendees with a visually immersive keepsake aligned with the runway’s artistic vision.
The brochure enhanced the overall event experience by reinforcing the show’s emotional narrative and providing attendees with a visually immersive keepsake aligned with the runway’s artistic vision.
Goals Achieved
Delivered a cohesive, theme-driven event program that balanced expressive visuals with functional layout and elevated the branding of a multidisciplinary student showcase.
Delivered a cohesive, theme-driven event program that balanced expressive visuals with functional layout and elevated the branding of a multidisciplinary student showcase.
Takeaways
I gained deeper experience translating historical art influences into modern design and learned how texture, lighting, and typography can work together to create a strong emotional tone in print materials.
I gained deeper experience translating historical art influences into modern design and learned how texture, lighting, and typography can work together to create a strong emotional tone in print materials.
