Project 2 | Tocci

Relay for Life targets virtually everyone, from young children to the elderly, because it raises money for all types of cancer and almost everyone has been affected by cancer. Therefore, I wanted a design that could appeal to all ages and get the message and event information across succinctly and clearly. I wanted readable text and one main visual image to get the point across. My initial design featured people with cancer ribbons as bodies, but I felt that the image was boring and routine. I feel that the final image is more powerful and eye-catching.

Since my conceptual headline, “Run for Your Life,” has a serious connotation, I wanted a fun typeface with personality for contrast. Cancer and cancer research are life-or-death matters, but Relay for Life is generally a ton of fun for participants, so I wanted to depict that contrast in my poster. I chose the Hobo Standard typeface because of its retro, laid-back feel.

To create my image, I scanned a photo of my friend’s boyfriend taken while he was running in a 400x800 relay. I then took a photo of my friend’s arm and cropped and filled the images with black to create silhouettes. To create the ribbon, I scanned a ribbon and resized the image. I used these images because I liked the strength and flow I felt they conveyed. I think the image connotes forward progress and unity. I placed the ribbon in midair in between the runner and the arm because I felt that the visual of the ribbon passing between people sends a stronger message than one person owning the ribbon in his hand and passing it off.

I used black text and black silhouettes to create gestalt within the poster. The pink ribbon provides a burst of color among black to liven up the poster and make it more visually appealing. The purple Relay for Life logo allows for instant recognition, as it is a logo most people are familiar with, and makes the logo pop a bit more than if it matched the text and silhouettes.