Exploration and Discovery ‘REVIVE RETRO EXHIBITION’

For this project I intended to promote and advertise my theme based on ‘Retro Video Games’, discovering a past iconic era and to reviving it as the new. During my project I explored various pathways to ideas relating to Retro Video Gaming, which I could have developed my project from, I’ve gained a wide range of research from this and have been experimental within my designs and my final outcomes.

The audience I aimed my design work for was catered for a young target market who’d be captivated with a retro throwback trend and atmosphere being brought back to present day. I intended to explore primarily the nostalgic qualities of old retro consoles and designs in which my audience would familiarise with and be engaged by.

Within my research I looked at past video game designs with retro graphics and imagery, as well as exploring the time and place in which video games boomed in popularity during the 80s. I took photos of my own personal collection of old video games and consoles to which I could link my own personal elements with into the project. Looking at the theme of Video gaming also lead me to explore aspects of Geek Chic, in which the image of a Geek is fashionable and appeals to a current young market. This idea helped me develop the concept of reviving the retro era and reminiscing in my designs elements of a past time.

For my project I wanted to challenge myself from using generic artists that created typical retro designs, and techniques, to have my own design work and ideas appeal a younger audience my work had to consist of a contemporary element as well as being experimental. From this I decided to look at the graphic designer Michael Paukner and typographer Craig Ward.

By focusing my design work looking at these artists, I felt they both had elements in their work which seemed unique and contemporary in design which would attract a fresh audience. Michael Paukner’s work consists of a strong use of lines and textured backdrops, as well as having a contemporary approach to his designs which depict data and information through diagrams and imagery to the viewer.  The aspects of his designs I related my own works was working in the contemporary style of his work, I linked creating a retro atmosphere in my designs as well as creating simple and effective designs. Craig Ward’s work presented ideas which I could use experimenting with typography, the text for the design of the posters being an important aspect. The prominent aspect of Ward’s work is his experimental approach to creating typography using a range of materials, these within the designs were bold and the composition of the pieces worked well. There was a sense of adventure and unknown in creating using a range of mediums to create typefaces I also felt was presented in his work, reflecting the idea of exploration and discovery.

During my experimentation I used a variety of handmade and computer techniques, creating media experiments. I started developing ideas of composition, combinations of colours which worked and the overlay of materials, such as the envelope textured backdrop presented a retro pattern element complementing to the designs. From this I also began layering bars and lines and silhouette shapes and vectors formed from my primary photographs. I also was experimental in creating logos and block like typefaces made from Lego bricks; I felt these gave strong sense of pixilation which soon developed as a key aspect to my final designs.

The successes in my project was the designs I developed during my development of ideas, I have used a variety of compositions to work for my final outcomes,  the research and designs I have produced do reflect and link back from the secondary sources I have referred to and primary photographs I have used. The outcomes present effective designs that attract my target audience of young people, the set of posters are unique and are different to the generic posters and designs in my research and successfully represent the theme of Retro video games and present a retro atmosphere within them.

There were improvements which I could have taken, for my final outcomes, I think I could have refined my ideas a lot further, the designs do look slightly busy and I could have included other detailed elements that reference each specific console to enhance the informative purpose of each poster. The final logo I used could have been worked on more, using clearer images and using colours for my Lego brick logo would have made a more appealing image and emphasized the retro feel of the overall design. The elements of the textured backdrop and use of envelope bars does seem slightly repetitive in my posters and by experimenting further using other textures, materials and colours I could have produced some alternative outcomes to compare with.

Linking back to the idea of Exploration and Discovery was a strong aspect to consider within my designs, for my final outcomes I have developed the series of posters which reflect ideas of the theme, with the strong link to the concept of reviving retro video games, the link within my designs incorporates exploration and discovery, being reflected through my research of a past era and the strong retro atmosphere of pixelated video game graphics in my designs.

Overall I feel the project has developed well from my initial brief and the theme of Exploration and Discovery, although the outcomes work generally well together, there are many improvements I could have taken and alternative designs I could have created to work with the final exhibition promotion posters and the theme. I feel the approach I have taken; making my designs seem contemporary and consist of a retro element to them has allowed me to challenge myself in this project as well as exploring alternative ways in working. 

With my outcomes I wanted to take it a step further, pasting them onto a corrugated fence, this was inspired earlier from posters I saw at Whitechapel. Similarly, I think by tearing the edges to age my outcomes and placing them together like this there is a strong retro atmosphere from these pieces as a final collective of posters. 

I wanted to present my posters in a fun way to attract an audience to the exhibition. From my earlier research and design work I have incorporated the ideas of Geek Chic to my outcome promoting this trend and culture with my posters.

Below I have also created a final Logo Poster in which acts as the brand image for the ‘Revive Retro’ Exhibition I am advertising. I kept the design simple with the backdrop and using a monochrome colour scheme adds to the aspect of being old as well as contemporary in design.

For my final outcomes I have produced a collection of posters which promote a retro video game consoles exhibition at the V&A. Iv’e considered my target audience being aimed at young people and these designs have been developed from my artist studies, research and experimentations.

Approaching the final stages of the project I have created further possible styles in these designs which I can consider developing for my outcomes. I intend to create a series of posters advertising an exhibition based on Retro video games, these posters will have a distinctive link in the style of the designs as well as individually promoting a different console. 

Designing for a Client

Creating further designs I have considered targeting my posters through a client. I chose the V&A museum as I think their eclectic range of works and collections they exhibit suits well to my promotion of Retro Video Games consoles and advertising aspects of the 1980s era.

Style of Posters

In these designs I have developed in the backdrop textured bars and and rectangular shapes, these remind me of the video game pixel graphics and works well as an element with the video game consoles.

Here I have continued to develop my ideas creating designs that promote retro video games consoles. I’ve started developing a distinctive style in my designs which I intend to develop towards my outcomes. 

Here I’ve continued developing my photographs and typeface for my designs, block like letters acts as a key element in linking my design works together. The Space Invader pixel I think works well being included with the slogan as it adds another aspect of the past and Retro video gaming which would appeal to a young audience.