COMPETITION - Leeds Light Night Illustration

Advertised in the student opportunities bulletin was a competition brief for Leeds Light Night and so I have been working on a response in order to propel my commercial practice and professionalism.

REQUIREMENTS OF BRIEF/ CONTEXT

• theme - people and the city
• wide audience
• an event that brings together light and arts in the city
• celebration of culture
• low-res image to be judged
• 3 colours only
• concept statement

The brief demands a 3 colour merchandise design to promote the 2017 event. Working closely within my wider intent for practice, the brief asks for an image that illustrates, or rather celebrates the diversity and heritage of the city. Considering the wider audience, it is imperative that my design operates universally, and as such, demands simplicity and an inclusive visual language.

The brief also notes that the design should be engaging to children whilst working within a restricted colour palette.

DESIGN SUGGESTIONS

My initial design suggestions revolve around an integration between the contemporary event and the heritage of the city, using symbols and shapes to communicate architectural information and humorous characters. Echoing some of the concerns of my Illustrated Self poster, I am hoping to carry over some of the motifs and visual devices.

I am applying my usual method of a digital mimic of screen print, layering textural positives in Photoshop. Due to the commercial nature of the brief, I have had to consider the flexibility of my design for a multitude of outlets. Working with vignettes on a white background seems to work effectively to allow elements to work in isolation. Applying my common practice of a digitally layered image from positives, the image could easily work in digital print or manual screen print depending on the changing needs of the client.

Responding to the brief for a celebratory image of heritage and culture, I have composed an illustration of visual devices that provide a nod to Leeds' industrial heritage whilst capturing the dynamics of Light Night through gestural marks and active characters. Employment of such characters has achieved a playful aesthetic appropriate to the tone of the event and child audiences. 

I feel that the composition has achieved a linear flow through which the text is direct and informative against a clear visual narrative.

CONCEPT STATEMENT FOR ENTRY

Responding to the theme 'People and the City', my response aims to capture an interplay between the people, performers and their city. Using abstract characters, the design aims to be playful and engaging for children whilst achieving a universality appropriate to the wider audience of Light Night. Architectural motifs provide a nod to Leeds' industrial heritage, supported by comical characters which celebrate the energy of Light Night and the city.

I wait to hear . . .