Portfolio Case Study: "Radiance" Poster Design

Client / Context: Chicago Graphic Design Club, Two Thirty Space & One Design Company at Stephen Daiter Gallery.

Project: “VALUES” Exhibition Submission - “Radiance”

Role: Visual Designer / Illustrator

Project Overview & Goal:

To design and showcase a custom poster titled "Radiance" for the Chicago Graphic Design Club’s VALUES exhibition. The project objective was to visually explore and articulate the personal core value of Self-Awareness, translating internal reflection and personal growth into a high-impact visual artwork for a gallery environment.

Concept & Creative Strategy

  • Concept: Quiet Depth, Outward Reach. Real personal growth begins internally through self-observation. The design captures the transformation of internal clarity into authentic outward energy, connection, and expression.

  • Visual Metaphor:

    • Central Eye Motif & Skyline: A central eye frames a detailed city skyline, illustrating how looking inward allows us to perceive the external world and our place within it more clearly.

    • Sweeping Banner: The upward ribbon carrying the word "RADIANCE" bridges the central focal point with dynamic movement, representing the projection of inner perspective outward.

  • Color Palette: Atmospheric deep teal and green tones contrasted with crisp cream and radiant lavender to evoke clarity, depth, and perspective.

Design Process & Role

  • Typography & Hierarchical Balance:

    • Title ("RADIANCE"): Rendered in a bold, retro-futuristic sans-serif set along a curved, upward path to inject dynamic perspective and movement.

    • Tagline ("Quiet Depth, Outward Reach"): Set in a heavy, grounding display face along the base to anchor the sweeping lines and atmospheric background.

  • Composition & Perspective Grid:

    • Utilized vanishing perspective lines radiating outward from the central eye motif to draw viewer focus inward before guiding the eye across the skyline and banner elements.

  • Exhibition Handoff & Presentation:

    • Prepared full-resolution vector and digital artwork assets optimized for gallery print production and motion graphics presentation at Stephen Daiter Gallery.

Real-World Scale & Impact

  • Selected for exhibition and showcased live at the Chicago Graphic Design Club VALUES exhibition at Stephen Daiter Gallery.

  • Recognized for across community platforms for connecting personal storytelling with strong typography and spatial composition.