9436 - Designing For Music: The Art of the Gig Poster

Course Description

Creating compelling gig posters is both a fun and challenging pursuit for any graphic designer. This hands-on course equips you with the essential tools and techniques to craft eye-catching posters that not only capture attention but also communicate a powerful visual message. Each week, you’ll take on a new design challenge that focuses on foundational skills—typography, photography, illustration, composition and color—while pushing your creativity through conceptual thinking and experimentation. Whether you’re designing for punk shows, jazz nights or electronic acts, you’ll explore how to tailor your visual voice to match the music.

We’ll examine the evolution of gig poster design, from psychedelic prints of the 1960s to modern screen printed collectibles, while analyzing how cultural context shapes visual storytelling. By the end of the course, you’ll have a diverse portfolio of gig posters and a confident grasp of poster design fundamentals you can apply to real-world projects and creative careers.

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• Animation : Electives
• Graphic Design : Electives
• Interactive Design : Electives
• Natural Science Illustration : Electives
• Painting Studies : Electives
• Photography : Electives