A Poster says a thousand words ft. The Wednesday show
Before any big launch comes the POSTER. The symbol, the passage, the icon, the indicator of what’s about to come.
We, as humans, pick patterns from our surroundings. We learn things from our culture. We start accepting things that match our beliefs and values.
While we design the poster for our show, we need to keep in mind the semiotics of our show that also match our audience’s belief system.
Creative and imaginative use of semiotics curates the look and feel of your show.
The big question that a poster should answer for your audience is: “What do I need to remind my audience of when they first see what I have made for them?”
Let’s see what we get reminded of once we see the poster for the famous Netflix Original, Wednesday.
Have a look at the poster!
Ring any bells? Yes, it’s the magic world of the Harry Potter series.
Right from the castles in the background reminding you of Hogwarts to the stoic pose of Wednesday similar to Harry Potter, you get an idea of what the show is going to be about. Magic, thrill, mystery, adventure, fantasy.
What did you observe first when you saw the poster?
Is it a girl carrying an umbrella against the dark, cloudy, and stormy weather? An eerie atmosphere indeed.
Something spooky is surely cooking. But what is it? To look closely into the matter, you start noticing the features of the girl.
Captivated by the bold eyes of the girl? Yep, the poster surely justifies the character. A confident, serious-looking, badass girl who won’t take anyone’s bullshit.
As you start seeing the composure on her face and then slowly noticing her braids, you see a girl who likes to be in control and have power (so she can work without getting her hair in her face).
You might get fooled by the cute fringes. Well, that’s where the designers lay the trap for you.
Now, focus on dark burgundy-colored lipstick. Doesn’t mix well with fringes?
Hmmm, the mysterious and secretive aura surely confuses you. Interesting, isn’t it?
Tension is created for the viewer. Now, he/she would really want to know what this girl is all about.
The dark-colored nail polish and the black and brown attire seep into your subconscious slowly. You start to make a mental image or persona of the protagonist — “She looks like a strong-willed and determined character. I bet she would really go after what she wants.”
You see the attire. The collared shirt, tie, and logo on her dress. Logo? You remember a school’s emblem. But which one? Ohh yes! Quite similar to Hogwarts’ “Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus”.
Even the peculiar gothic/retro font used for the title matches the pattern of font titles used for the Harry Potter series.
Immediately to make sense of what you have been observing, you start creating a story in your mind — “So, this girl might be wearing a uniform of the school where you learn magic.”
Now, zoom out from her enchanting look for a second. Notice her side pose with the rain hitting hard on the umbrella on her right shoulder. Keeping this in mind, see her eyes looking directly at YOU.
A bit afraid and curious by her demeanor? The camera pose has done its magic then!
If you see the poster in its entirety, one color which majorly drives your emotion is PURPLE!
Purposefully used by graphic designers, Purple has been collating your thoughts up till now. Giving you an air of creativity, mystery, and fantasy realm!
Startling isn’t it? How the world of semiotics when combined with design and art can really invite you to the journey marketers or creators have made for you?
