In this module you will start a two-week project in which you will create a Retro Advertisement.The goal for this piece is to choose a modern appliance or tool and develop a retro advertisement for that object (as if that object existed 40, 50, or more years ago.You will begin by taking photographs of a modern appliance or tool as a reference, make several sketches to concept the final advertisement, draw it in Photoshop or Illustrator, add text, and add background elements to create a meaningful product advertisement that looks as if it were created in a much earlier design style.Project Timeline:Module 05: Create a minimum of twelve (12) thumbnail sketches.Module 06: Create a retro advertisement based on your best thumbnail from Module 05.Examples of Period (Retro) Advertisements:Ads, Circa 1950’sAdvertising Illustrations from the 1950’sCirca 1960’sAdvertising Illustrations from the 1960’sRetro Approach to Advertising Modern Social Media:Retro Advertising IllustrationsRetro Advertisement Thumbnail Steps:Take several photographs (from different positions, distances, heights) of a common appliance or tool.
Sketch at least twenty (20) thumbnails, using the photographs as guides to placement and position of the appliance in the ad.
Crop and reduce the photographs in size to approximately 360px x 640px.
Create a single page document in Photoshop that includes your best three (3) photographs (reduced) and your thumbnails.
Export As… a JPG for submission to the drop box.
“Art directors, storyboard artists and graphic designers, as well as other kinds of visual artists, use the term “thumbnail sketch” to describe a small drawing on paper (usually part of a group) used to explore multiple ideas quickly.” – WikipediaThumbnail sketches are small because that saves time in working through multiple ideas, and because it’s often easier to see potential design issues, much like stepping back from a larger, finished work.
