The Podonki Works Project: Posters as Tests and Research

Contents:

• Ways the project supports the growth of podonki works designers
• How Andrey works
• How Maxim works
• Secrets of simplifying the process and improving the quality of the result
• About the installation and the project's development prospects

Podonki works is a creative endeavor by designers who have decided to look at everyday objects from a new angle. They sought to challenge ideals of perfection, to have fun, test their skills, and enjoy the process.

A chance meeting at a Yekaterinburg design studio, just starting out in their careers, led to the idea of ​​creating something more than just a collaboration. Now their project has been going on for six months.

There are several key aspects to highlight in the poster development process.

Creative designer maryco.

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After graduating from art school, influenced by my teacher's advice, I decided to continue my studies at the Ivan Dmitrievich Shadr State Art College, choosing to become a graphic designer. This educational institution turned out to be a wonderful place, where I was able to lay a solid foundation of knowledge and skills. Although some of these skills weren't directly related to my chosen profession, they proved to be very useful later on. As part of the curriculum, we even took painting classes, creating still lifes and compositions on canvas. My first steps in design were difficult—at times, it's even painful to remember the terrible projects I created. However, in my fourth year, I realized that this was truly my calling, and I wanted to develop in this direction. I am currently working as a creative designer at maryco studio, where I develop interesting concepts, create logos and redesign brands.

Graphic designer

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My acquaintance with graphic design began with creating covers for my experimental tracks, which I did in FL Studio, albeit not very well. Over time, music faded into the background, and I began working on custom covers for little-known rappers on SoundCloud. At some point, I learned about the graphic design profession and began looking for openings in this field. For over five years, I've been working in this field and have completed a wide variety of projects. My portfolio includes branding work and logos, as well as purely digital projects, such as NFT cards for marketplaces. I taught myself 3D and motion design programs so I could enjoy chocolate raf every day.

Ways the podonki works project supports the growth of designers

Maxim and I regularly discussed topics related to individual creativity and methods for stimulating creative thinking in designers today. One of the goals of our project is to find fresh methods to improve our activities.

This was the first collaboration between the Falso Vampiro team, during which they decided to combine their efforts. Andrey began by creating an illustration inspired by the design of 15th-century textbooks, depicting a certain creature on it. After that, Maxim began modeling and visualizing it in 3D.

Image courtesy of user maryco.

You solve exciting problems in your workplace, where you are surrounded by comfortable conditions and a stable schedule. Question: Why waste precious free time editing and straining my eyes? For me, as a creative designer at maryco podonki works, these tools are essential tools that contribute to my professional development and allow me to bring greater value to the team.

• Creative thinking continues to develop. At maryco, I regularly generate ideas for business. The situation is similar here, but you act as both a client and a designer—you not only create concepts but also objectively evaluate them.
• Professional skills continue to develop. Each designer creates their own boards with methods and techniques they strive to master. In our profession, it is necessary to constantly stay abreast of the latest trends and changes in the design world. A personal project provides a unique opportunity—you can do something you've long planned to do. This helps improve your technical skills.
• Your projects and you yourself undergo changes. I began paying more attention to my work, significantly improving my compositional skills and developing an appreciation for asymmetrical and complex grid structures. Furthermore, I aim to create products that are not only functional but also visually unique and offer an engaging user experience.

One of the projects where I applied my skills in the studio was corporate merch. Its design turned out to be sleek and functional, while still possessing a unique atmosphere. Every component, including graphics and shapes, was designed by hand. This merch isn't a compilation of random elements or a copy of popular trends—you'll only find things like that at maryco.

From the very beginning, we realized that the core audience of podonki works would be designers similar to us. They are able to appreciate both the content and the significance of the posters themselves. They are also curious to see how our projects evolve and how our approach to poster design changes.

Maxim and I are fascinated by designers who, like us, move from alternative art to creating unique pieces, developing their own style and finding unconventional solutions. We do not approve of blind imitation of fashion trends - by following this path, you will only become someone's student, and will not be able to reveal your individuality.

Our creativity is an endless process and freedom in choosing the methods of self-expression. We don't limit ourselves to using various tools, easily combining typography, 3D graphics, lettering, and even experimenting with questionable AI-powered services and many other means. The main rule is that the poster creation should take place over the course of one evening – and the result will be whatever it turns out to be.

Our initial fifty posters seem random. You might think they were created by a group of ten designers, but that was not the case. They lack consistent fonts and a unified style. They use bright and sometimes uneven colors, and there are numerous random elements, flaws, and noticeable errors. Yes, they are far from perfect, but that is not their goal.

We came to the conclusion that at the initial stage it is not worth setting strict limits for ourselves. We acted according to the circumstances. The non-commercial nature of our concept allows us to freely experiment with fonts and images. At the same time, we recognize that such experiments become significantly more challenging within the context of commercial projects due to the constraints associated with client requests.

Equally significant is the fact that Maxim and I have completely different professional backgrounds and approaches to poster creation. This difference gives our work uniqueness and promotes active discussions. Let me share the main stages of work that each of us goes through.

How Andrey Works

For me, each poster is not just an image, but an entire emotion, a unique story that can either be read or ignored. I love immersing myself in details, losing touch with the world around me. I enjoy a slow and thoughtful process, as well as the opportunity to conduct targeted experiments. A trail of breadcrumbs leads the attentive observer to the main idea, or, conversely, it can lead to a dead end - one way or another, it is always a small adventure.

First of all, I set a task for myself. The first step is to ask yourself, "What is the reason for creating this poster?" Sometimes I view the process of working on a poster as a form of art therapy—allowing myself to transfer my experiences and visual ideas into a digital format. Other times, I view it as a learning opportunity. For example, I might strive to create a complex composition or try new approaches in typographic design.

Setting the stage:

• Materials. You can use articles from the English-language Wikipedia or retro posters. If you prefer, you can also write your own texts.
• Images can be found on various platforms such as Pinterest, Are.na, and Tumblr.
• Fonts have always been of great interest to me. Sometimes I have to go to VKontakte to search for interesting options, which may seem a little outdated, but more often I prefer specialized websites of font studios, such as type.today or Brownfox. I can't help but mention DaFont — this resource is also worth your attention.
• Vectors. I recommend creating graphics by hand. This will help avoid formulaic visual solutions and hackneyed techniques. To achieve a poster-style effect, you can visit the Dingbats section on DaFont and use symbols instead of logos.
• Reference board. I collect both direct and indirect references on the Pinterest platform. Lately, I've been especially drawn to landscape photography. Nature provides everything I need: atmosphere, color palette, and textures. As a result, my board contains about 15 pins with associative images that echo the posters.

I create:

• Vector wireframe. First, in Illustrator, I create a black and white version of the composition, including all its components. Then I begin to work out the details. Once the wireframe is complete, it's time to add color and evaluate the final result. Even if the composition looks flawless, it may still not match the chosen color palette. This is especially important to consider when it comes to the legibility of fonts.
• Raster Image Destruction. In 2022, Adobe enhanced the copy/paste feature, allowing users to convert multi-layered layouts from Illustrator to Photoshop. This simplifies the final touch-up process, where various effects can be applied. For example, in Photoshop, you can add glows, textures, embossing, filters, overlays, and gradients.

I begin the post-processing stage. Once the vector design is complete, we apply our custom template to it, which allows us to add subtle textures and edge glows. Many designers often overdo it with mockups, chrome, and smoked-in-the-eye effects. Our goal is to preserve the original look of the poster, so our template does not significantly alter the original design. If we do show visualizations, we do so in the comments, giving them secondary attention.

How Maxim Works

For me, developing the poster is a path to self-knowledge and the formation of my visual identity. Form emerges from functionality, and ideas develop as I work. I allow myself to be carried away by the creative process, which opens up new horizons and inspiration. Rather than imposing specific meanings on the viewer, I prefer to leave space for their own interpretations and reflections.

Brute force. The main advice is to not limit yourself and actively try different approaches. This will lead to the accumulation of significant experience (posters) and to clarity in choosing the further direction. This method will be especially useful for beginners who, from the very beginning, set too high expectations for themselves and strive for some kind of “ideal”. To avoid disappointment, try to create and publish your work regularly, and then evaluate your progress after some time.

Currently, Maxim uses an approach to his work that is similar to mine. However, at the beginning of his career, a volume-oriented method facilitated him. He created 4-5 posters a week, while I limited myself to just two.

You might wonder: what's the difference between a podonki works poster created in one hour and one created in five? In fact, the differences aren't that significant. A poster created in five hours will certainly be more detailed and layered, but even an hour can produce an impressive result. The most important aspect remains the goal you set for yourself.

Let's say you decide to create a poster using high-quality texture. This task requires abandoning traditional tools like typography. You'll have to turn to more creative and unconventional approaches. Of course, the process of developing such a poster will take more time, but this will be your conscious decision.

Secrets of Simplifying the Process and Improving the Quality of the Result

Photoshop has 3D capabilities that allow you to import models in the OBJ format. However, we strongly advise against using this function, as the tool is in its infancy and may produce unsatisfactory results. Instead, we recommend considering the option of simulating 3D effects using embossing in layer styles.

The essence of the method is as follows: start by creating a layer that will contain the object to which you want to add volume. Set the Fill parameter to 0%, which will allow the styles to overlap each other. Next, create several copies of this layer and give each of them a unique name corresponding to their functions - these will be shadow, light, and reflection. Then open the layer styles for each of the copies and adjust the Emboss value depending on the task at hand. As a result, you will get a great metallic effect without resorting to 3D software.

Photoshop has a Filter Gallery feature that can be found under Filter → Filter Gallery. With it, you can adjust image deformation parameters, for example, to create a glass surface effect or blur. This option is well known to many designers. But what happens if you apply six different preset filters via actions and combine them? In my experimental graphics, I layer these filters on top of each other and select the most successful results. Then I add additional overlays between the chosen options and leave them in the final layout.

Illustrator has a basic grid consisting of many square cells to which all elements are aligned. You can activate it through the View menu by selecting Snap to Grid, and to display it, simply enable Show Grid. Using this grid, I create rectangles from which I form small patterns and vector images that have become part of my visual style. It's also great for designing geometric logos.

You don't have to strive for perfect image clipping. Using the Magic Eraser tool, set the Tolerance value in the upper left corner to about 30 and simply click along the edges of the image to achieve a rough cropping effect and artistic cutting out. This technique is great for quickly creating collages. It also looks interesting against a backdrop of clear graphics and text.

Don't forget to share community shots you believe in. Over the past month, three of our posters have received over 90,000 views and 1,000 saves on Pinterest, all without any advertising, on a new account. There are also other popular platforms for posting work, such as Behance, Are.na, Dribbble and Dprofile.

About the installation and the development prospects of the project

At the beginning of 2023, my friend Varvara Tomina noticed our promotional materials and invited us to participate in an upcoming event called "Philosophy of Fun." This creative group organizes a variety of events: they read poetry, hold house concerts, and present the work of local artists. At the end of January, podonki made their first appearance in a physical space. The event featured a vibrant atmosphere of music, numerous artists, and a large area including a rave stage, several exhibitions, and a performance. One of the program's features was a "Photo Booth"—a space whose walls we decorated with posters and where we created a photo zone.

The visitor finds himself in a space designed in line with modern trends, where, if desired, one can take a photo under effective lighting, and also get acquainted with the fruits of our work over the past six months. Initially, we were right at the entrance, and people were walking past, which looked quite funny because the space resembled a mousetrap. However, once we let the place live its life, the atmosphere changed: people started to truly appreciate poster art and even started lining up to capture the moment in a photo.

Over the course of the evening, approximately 300–400 people attended the event. As designers, we often find ourselves in a closed space, and I must say, the digital medium cannot compare to genuine and immediate reactions from the audience.

Initially, our project was conceived as a platform for improving skills, but now it is evolving into something much larger and ambitious. In the future, we intend to launch a portfolio website with online sales capabilities, organize poster creation courses, and establish collaborations with various brands. The poster combines the best elements of design, which opens up many ideas and options for future formats. We are just beginning our journey.

We have a lot of fascinating design information on our Telegram channel. Join us!

Alternative publications on poster graphic design.

• Modern Posters: The Use of Typography, Its Techniques, and Effects
• 15 Soviet Posters That Use Fascinating Design Techniques.
• Exploring the rebellious spirit embodied in Dutch posters is a fascinating journey into the world of creativity and social criticism. These works of art, originating in different historical eras, reflected the people's desire for freedom and independence.

  The Netherlands is known for its rich cultural heritage, and posters from this country were often used to convey ideas of protest and challenge established norms. Important events, such as the struggle for independence and social movements, were reflected in graphic design, which was characterized by bold colors, expressive imagery, and provocative slogans.

  Each poster can be both a work of art and a powerful tool for disseminating ideas. They became symbols of resistance and agents of change, drawing attention to important societal issues. In this context, it is no coincidence that Dutch posters often served as a platform for experimentation with form and content, reflecting the spirit of the times and the desire for change.

  Thus, the Dutch poster is not simply an element of visual culture, but an important historical document that continues to inspire and provoke reflection on freedom and individual responsibility.

• Creating a poster for Barack Obama's election campaign is an interesting process that combines elements of graphic design and political communication. Such a poster must not only attract attention but also effectively convey key messages reflecting the ideals and goals of the candidate.

  When developing a design, it is important to consider the color palette, fonts, and imagery that will be used. Each element must be carefully considered to create a harmonious and memorable visual perception. For example, the use of red, white, and blue can emphasize patriotic themes, while images of the candidate should evoke trust and sympathy in potential voters.

  Furthermore, the poster should clearly articulate key slogans that capture the essence of the election platform. Short yet powerful phrases can inspire and mobilize the electorate, creating a sense of unity and hope for change. It is important that the design not only attracts attention but also remembers the key ideas the candidate wants to convey to the public.

  Therefore, the process of creating a poster for Barack Obama's election campaign requires a deep understanding of both visual and political aspects to achieve maximum impact and resonate with voters.

• The legend of the "Red Wedge, Beat the Whites" design has its roots in a saturated era when visual concepts served not only as decoration but also as a means of expressing ideological positions. This project became a symbol of political struggle and social change, capturing the spirit of the times.

  The inspiration for this design came from the desire to create a powerful visual image that could unite people around a common idea. The vibrant red used in it symbolized not only revolutionary fervor but also the desire for change, while the wedge shape embodied force and determination. This element was carefully considered to emphasize the dynamism and aggressiveness of the movement.

  The creators of the design understood that its success would depend on its ability to convey important messages to the audience. Each element was carefully chosen to evoke specific emotions and associations in viewers. Thus, the visual aesthetic became an integral part of the message, turning the design into a kind of manifesto.

  Today, this design is perceived as a historical artifact that not only speaks of the time of its creation but also continues to inspire new generations. It has become part of our cultural heritage, serving as a reminder of how the power of an image can influence public consciousness and shape opinion.