Designer: Zafer Lehimler

Client: Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Graphic Department

Size: 70 x 100 cm

Printing Process: Digital

Number of Inks: 4-color process

Hearing about the Reggae Poster Design contest, I was skeptical about what would result. Many of these exhibitions have cropped up recently to fill the internet with sub par solutions and a lack of focus in what they hope to accomplish. I appluad anything that encourages furthering the exposure of the poster as an important creative canvas, so I hate to be too hard on these juried exhibitions. If they provide the inspiration for the occassional masterpiece to emerge, I couldn't support them more heartily. If they keep producing gems like this, I will personally fund them!

Finishing with a silver medal (clearly robbed of the top title!) Istanbul-based designer and educater Zafer Lehimler created a poster that takes the simplest elements of reggae iconography and totally reinvents them. The rich red, gold, and green colors combine to make a pattern forming the star, an icon that is so central to many reggae images. The type is nestled around the edges, but it is there that Lehimler makes one of his strongest moves, using the pattern lines to define the edges of the boxes for the words, creating angles that drive the viewer inward, back to the central star.

The effect of optical illusions is central to many of Lehimler's posters. "I have explored this on a lot of my current pieces, from this poster, to ones on graphic designer solidarity and radiation," he explains. The trippy effect here changes the perspective the longer that you look at it, making the image invert and then slowly rise up. The star acting as the crest of a mountaintop, as well as the end of a tunnel of light. All the while staying central and shining bright in its effectiveness. Much like Lehimler's work.

You can always get John Foster's thoughts on posters in book form via New Masters of Poster Design, New Masters of Poster Design: Volume Two, 1,000 Indie Posters and many more.

NOTE: Poster of the Week runs every Wednesday. Check it out each week!