Sheppard Fairey“Frank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary graphic designer and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He first became known for his ‘Andre the Giant Has a Posse’” (…OBEY…) (www.obeygiant.com) sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News.
Image Source: Wikipedia
His work became more widely known in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, specifically his Barack Obama «Hope» poster.
Image Source: Wikipedia
The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston calls him one of today’s best known and most influential street artists. His work is included in the collections at The Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego, the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Analyze his poster for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election and give your opinion on the use of style and its efficacy. Also critique the use of pastiche and typography.
Write one page (about 350 words) on your opinion of this design and substantiate your answers with examples.
My analyses
I remember the poster very well for 2008, I mean, it’s really iconic! The colors I think could represent the colors of the competing parties and them then blending and working together. The slogan it self is very in the time, it in the year of the finance crises and the chance of having the first black president, people saw hope, had hope and wanted hope. The style is great, it’s overall minimal but enough to recognize him. The style reminds me of a pop art and street art combo. The typography is timeless, you really can’t go wrong with it, and it is so versatile. Pastiche, I appreciate a good throwback and it fascinated me how we take styles and trend from the past and still give them a toss of lemon zest to make them fresh and current. And reviving previous styles, it’s clever, it could wake up some nostalgia and a feel of familiarity.
Designers Tea Party 