50 Years of Music Icons
Graphic Design | 2022
Project Background
One of my favorite projects involved designing a cohesive series of three posters, each representing a different musical icon: Madonna, Ravi Shankar, and Jimi Hendrix. The challenge was to create visually distinct designs that were also conceptually connected in a meaningful way to reflect the unique identities of each artist while establishing a unifying thread. I began by asking myself: what relations could exist between a pop icon, a classical Indian musician, and an African American rock legend? This question led me on a deep research journey into their cultural impact, musical legacies, and visual aesthetics, ultimately informing a unified design approach across the series.
Moodboard
This moodboard explores the visual language of three iconic musicians. It draws on themes of cultural fusion, rebellion, and spirituality, blending earthy
aesthetics with psychedelic rock influences to inform a cohesive poster series that honors each artist’s unique legacy while visually connecting them.
Project Design
“Sometimes, you are going to be so frustrated you want to give up the guitar, you’ll hate the guitar. But all of this is just a part of learning, because if you stick with it, you’re going to be rewarded.”
Jimi Hendrix - 1968
First Iterations
Typographic Styling
Visual Design
Second Iterations
Typographic Styling
Final Styling
Final Typographic Styling
Project Challenge
After finalizing the typographic styling, I focused on unifying the posters into a cohesive design. Through design research, I discovered that hand painted backgrounds could serve as a visual bridge between the pieces. I painted each background by hand, then digitally integrated them in Adobe Creative Suite to create the final composition.
