AN EVENING WITH LEON BRIDGES

Developing a gig poster

DURATION
1 weeks

ROLES
Illustration
Typography

TOOLS
Illustrator

Photoshop

DURATION
11 weeks

ROLES
Art Direction
Layout
Copywriting

TOOLS
InDesign
Illustrator
Photoshop

DURATION
11 weeks

ROLES
Art Direction

Layout
Copywriting

TOOLS
InDesign

Illustrator
Photoshop

PROBLEM
Develop a concept and produce a gig poster for a Leon Bridges event at the Seattle Showbox Theater. 

GOAL
Research and get to know the artist, including his history, sound, and audience. Create a concept strategy/statement. Iterate and produce a poster design. 

SOLUTION
After my research, I learned that Leon Bridges' audience leans more feminine than his current artwork, composed of primary colors and traditional typefaces, suggests. I decided to use rosey hues and hand tyopgraphy to create a more personal, and slightly softer, Leon Bridges poster that captures his velvety smooth tone. Set in front of a large moon, I aim to get the audience excited for their evening with Mr. Bridges.

PROBLEM
Develop a concept and produce a gig poster for a Leon Bridges show at the Seattle Showbox Theater. 

GOAL
Research and get to know the artist, including his history, sound, and audience. Create a concept strategy/statement. Iterate and produce a poster design. 

SOLUTION
After my research, I learned that Leon Bridges' audience leans more feminine than his current artwork, composed of primary colors and traditional typefaces, suggests. I decided to use rosey hues and hand tyopgraphy to create a more personal, and slightly softer, Leon Bridges poster that captures his velvety smooth tone. Set in front of a large moon, I aim to get the audience excited for their evening with Mr. Bridges.

leon-no-background

RESEARCHING THE CURRENT BRAND
For the first step of my process, I gathered visual inspiration from Leon's current brand. I noticed similarities that ran through most of the pieces. These included use of bold, primary colors; a dynamic image of Leon as the focal point, and traditional type treatment, usually an uppercase serif. 

leonbridgesfreeassociation2
leonbridgesfreeassociation

GETTING TO KNOW THE SOUND
Next, I immersed myself in the music and starting to curate images that were inspired by the lyrics. I also pulled out themes from his tracks, such as New Orleans, religion, and of course, love. 

FORMING A CONCEPT
As mentioned before, I noticed that Leon's fanbase is composed mainly of females, and I wanted to incorporate that into my strategy for this poster. I was also inspired by the theme of New Orleans and, after doing some visal research, developed a rosey hued color palette that I felt captured the tone I was seeking. 

leonbridgesfreeassociation3
Asset 1@4x

EXPLORING HAND TYPE
Inspired by the personal, romantic feeling of love letters. I opted to write Leon's name by hand. I brought it into Illustrator and, with some finessing, was able to achieve the just-hand-touched-enough style I set out to accomplish.

2024 NAT WARNER