Harry James Orchestra Postcard Design

I created this postcard for an orchestra event at Hillsdale College, inspired by a photo from last year's performance. The project aimed to appeal to an older audience while capturing a jazzy 1940s aesthetic.

I started with a vibrant image featuring the main musician, which had a blurred background to allow space for text. For the headline, I chose a bold art-deco font and added a solid drop shadow in a pink and orange gradient for extra impact. I maintained the font and text formatting from the previous year for the smaller textual details. To enhance the musical theme and introduce a sense of movement, I incorporated a transparent pink swoosh that flows from the musician’s trumpet and swirls behind the title. Finally, I added a subtle film grain effect to bring depth and texture to the design.

This design was finalized after some slight tweaks based on feedback from the creative director at Hillsdale’s marketing department.