CLIENT: Bernal Beach Films
ROLE: Creative Director, Art Director
DELIVERABLES: Film poster
ROLE: Creative Director, Art Director
DELIVERABLES: Film poster
FOR ADULT INTELECTUALS ONLY
When Emmy-nominated filmmaker Susan Stern reached out, she wasn’t looking for a traditional film poster—she wanted something as bold and subversive as the artist her documentary celebrated. The result? A hand-built collage from the archive of Spain Rodriguez himself; layered, chaotic, and undeniably punk.
When Emmy-nominated filmmaker Susan Stern reached out, she wasn’t looking for a traditional film poster—she wanted something as bold and subversive as the artist her documentary celebrated. The result? A hand-built collage from the archive of Spain Rodriguez himself; layered, chaotic, and undeniably punk.
The Challenge
How do you create original poster art for a documentary about an artist? Especially one as provocative and distinctive as Spain Rodriguez? The film deserved a design that honored his legacy without imitating it.
How do you create original poster art for a documentary about an artist? Especially one as provocative and distinctive as Spain Rodriguez? The film deserved a design that honored his legacy without imitating it.
The IDEA: HONOR A LEGACY
It felt wrong to illustrate something new for a film that existed to celebrate Spain’s work. Instead, I combed through hundreds of original scans and drawings from his archive, then pieced together a visual narrative from the major eras and characters of his life. The result was part tribute, part collage, and all Spain.
It felt wrong to illustrate something new for a film that existed to celebrate Spain’s work. Instead, I combed through hundreds of original scans and drawings from his archive, then pieced together a visual narrative from the major eras and characters of his life. The result was part tribute, part collage, and all Spain.
WHAT WE MADE
•Poster design (primary and alternates)
•Print-ready files for festivals and theatrical screenings
•Color-corrected press images for media use
•Poster design (primary and alternates)
•Print-ready files for festivals and theatrical screenings
•Color-corrected press images for media use
RESULTS
•Helped legitimize the film in the eyes of festival gatekeepers
•Used across multiple national and international film festivals
•Selected press and reviewers cited the artwork as part of what made the film stand out
•Helped legitimize the film in the eyes of festival gatekeepers
•Used across multiple national and international film festivals
•Selected press and reviewers cited the artwork as part of what made the film stand out
MY ROLE
I handled every part of the creative, from concept and research to final design and prep for print. That meant combing through Spain’s archive, curating representative work, and building a visual that was both striking and reverent.
I handled every part of the creative, from concept and research to final design and prep for print. That meant combing through Spain’s archive, curating representative work, and building a visual that was both striking and reverent.
