The article discusses the design and impact of the film posters for the 2020 Oscar-nominated films. The author argues that the quality of a film’s poster can influence the audience’s interest and desire to see the movie. Top picks for the ‘unofficial best poster award’, based on the opinions of professional designers include ‘1917’, ‘Joker’, ‘Marriage Story’ and ‘Parasite’; these posters were deemed distinctive, emotionally resonant, and visually attractive.

A sophisticated analysis of the posters was provided focusing on elements of design, color scheme, typography, and overall visual impression. The ‘1917’ poster was praised for its simplicity yet powerful depiction of the film’s plot, while ‘Joker’ was applauded for its vibrant color and emotional rawness. ‘Marriage Story’ was highlighted for its clever use of negative space to symbolize the emotional distance between the main characters. The ‘Parasite’ poster, praised for its ability to intrigue with its clever mix of color, symbolism, and strangeness, won the unofficial best poster award.

Valuable takeaways from this article include the importance of visual marketing assets like posters in captivating potential audiences. Visual appeal alone is not enough; the design also needs to be emotionally resonant to make an impact. The successful posters for ‘1917’, ‘Joker’, ‘Marriage Story’, and ‘Parasite’ all understood their films’ unique selling points and communicated these through artful design strategies. Also, the use of colors, symbols, and even negative space plays a crucial role in driving the message home, showcasing that every element of design matters in marketing materials.

Read more at Fast Company – co-design