Collaborators

Brandon Gilliland & Bella Gilhooley

Objective

Design an 11x17 in poster to promote the Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies Program’s 50th anniversary. The composition needs to promote all events happening during the anniversary.

11x17 in Poster

Concept

Inspiration for the poster came from an appreciation for the Dadaist movement, which saw many prominent female artists, like Hanna Houch, exploring concepts of sex and gender in a time of chaos and destruction. This period's use of collage allowed assets and textures to be pulled from previous years' posters as a nod to what came before. The craft-like quality of the piece reminds the viewer that behind this poster is a whole program of staff and professors that make events like the ones advertised happen, while also referencing the arts and crafts movement that gave women a spotlight in the art scene.​The composition is laid out radially to emphasize that all these events are taking place under the context of this being the 50th year of the program. ​

The included typefaces, ABeeZee, Voltaire, and League Spartan, were all designed by women, emphasizing representation and celebrating female designers who are often forgotten in a male-dominated line of work. Overall, this poster works to bring together many historical moments that helped to shape the program.