Graphic Design students create posters for Birmingham Zoo 60th Anniversary

Students in Courtney Windham’s Summer 2015 Graphic Processes studio were challenged to design posters for the Birmingham Zoo’s 60th Anniversary.  Their design solutions, which are celebrations of the animals as well as the 60th anniversary of the zoo, are currently on exhibit at the Birmingham Zoo in the Predator Building.

As Windham, assistant professor of graphic design, explains the project process, “The students began their process by researching Dutch designer, Hendrik N. Werkman (1882–1945), who is noted for his experimentation with type, ink and ink rollers for purely artistic expression. Students were given the freedom to experiment with similar techniques as Werkman but with additional materials and textures necessary to achieve the desired effects. When designing the main artwork, they thought about proportions, positive/negative space, and typographic hierarchy. In the process, each conducted research about their chosen animal and included that information in the lower half of the posters.”

The education department of the Birmingham Zoo is excited to exhibit the fifteen posters and is interested in talking with the students about using the designs for other educational purposes at the zoo.

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The posters above were designed by Madison Champion (tiger), Leighton Guerrero (flamingo), and Rachel Lamberth (lion).