Night Club Flyer

[tango]

I guess now I know this is truly a very "catty" forum, how very sad. As a matter of fact, the DJ does play 80's New Wave, not bubblegum. The bubbles are part of the template given to me by the DJ, who specifically said this part of the template should be included. This will probably be close to the final edit as the DJ wants the "bubbles" and the "bubble" text, as they are actually supposed to be disco balls, not bubbles.

[Roth]

Sorry, I didn't read any of that. Busy thinking about Sam Fox.

Now there's a couple of bubbles.

[Sammie]

Hi Tango,

It's hard for many of us here to constructively comment on this poster, because there are a good few things wrong with the design (not being insulting, just being honest).

The hierarchy of the type is wrong, the font usage is incorrect (are you using an art deco font for a club poster?)

To me, this doesn't communicate a club to me, well atleast a night club. If I saw this on the wall, I'd instantly think this was a poster for a guy who's set up a club for people who blow bubbles.

You have the Dj's name at the very bottom in the smallest sized font? Even in the original design you have here it's still too small. That should be one of the most prominent, biggest typography elements on the poster, that's who you are trying to sell.

Club name, location and the acts should stand out more, the rest of the information less prominent.

[Cosmo]

Originally Posted by tango

I guess now I know this is truly a very "catty" forum, how very sad. As a matter of fact, the DJ does play 80's New Wave, not bubblegum. The bubbles are part of the template given to me by the DJ, who specifically said this part of the template should be included. This will probably be close to the final edit as the DJ wants the "bubbles" and the "bubble" text, as they are actually supposed to be disco balls, not bubbles.

You asked for criticism, and you got it. If you think we're harsh, I could tell you stories about clients all day long that would make us look like sensitive pony-tail men.

There really is nothing working about this poster. The cheesy effects on the text, the obnoxious colors that will never print, the random bubbles, etc. To me, it looks like you are advertising a children's TV show or something. Nothing about it looks like something an adult would want to attend.

This is a case of trying to do too much. Start very simple. Start black and white, text only, and only add colors or other elements when they are absolutely necessary.

[BJMRamage]

Give the DJ/Club what the DJ wants and then one that you think rocks.
best of luck.

the remaining copy (pink/broadway) is nothing catchy. size the very bottom row smaller. the harsh shadow and the upper left sheen looks cheesy. have you checked out other flyers? behance/dribbble other online sites to see how hierarchy works?

[Roth]

You know, it's awful, but in it's way it perfectly sums up the kind of night you'll have. It will be cheezy, it will be crass, it will be full of awful people who have no idea how tragic they are, but the music will be great after a few drinks and despite yourself you might have some fun. If designers held a party like this the flyers would be knockout but you'd be in bed by nine with a good book and a cup of horlicks.

[Meffy]

Originally Posted by tango

I guess now I know this is truly a very "catty" forum, how very sad.

No, it's a forum for criticism. There's a warning right up there saying "wear your heavy sweater!" If you want to hear "Hey, that's great! Go with it exactly as is," then you'll not learn much, will you? Believe me, GDF is as gentle as newborn lambikins frolicking in a pasture of bluebells and buttercups compared to some places I've been, where the caption ought to read "Abandon hope all ye who enter."

they are actually supposed to be disco balls, not bubbles.

Disco balls are opaque and covered with little squares of mirror that appear dark but reflect beams of light. In one venue you might see three or five, tops, carefully arranged for best effect. These are transparent, reflect no beams but seem to glow from within, and there are scads of them floating randomly all over the place. They're bubbles. If they're supposed to be disco balls, make them look like disco balls.

[edit]

the DJ wants the "bubbles" and the "bubble" text, as they are actually supposed to be disco balls, not bubbles.

The text is supposed to be... disco ball text? You can see that doesn't make sense. Bubbles.

I'll repeat what others have said about the overuse of PS effects, font choices, arrangement of text, colors, and so forth. It just doesn't work. I say all this with the kindest, gentlest, most beneficent of motives: I want you to do good work.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Catty? No. Trying to help you see how others may view this piece so you can recognize your mistakes? Yes. If you want to improve, you need to put your feelings aside and use criticism to your advantage.

Broadway is FAR from disco ball text. It's an art deco font. Art deco and disco are WORLDS apart. Knowing some art history can be quite helpful in graphic design. And the circles do not look like disco balls. Hence why people are asking why there are bubbles on your flyer. Just because they're supposed to be something else doesn't change how people will interpret the shapes as they stand now.

[Meffy]

@Tango: If "Art Deco" doesn't ring a bell, think The Great Gatsby, flappers and sugar daddies, bathtubs full of gin... the 1920s, in other words. That's the cultural baggage that comes along for the ride when you use the font "Broadway."

Which is great if you're doing a poster for a Bonnie and Clyde Night, not so great in the more general case. :-}

[Virgo Nightingale]

First thing I think of when I hear art deco is the lobby of the Empire State Building (as well as the building itself, along with the Chrysler Building):



I also think of Erte prints:



These are the sorts of images that float through people's minds when you use a font specific to the art deco period. If this were a 20s or 30s themed event, then it would work, but only if you adjusted the surrounded imagery to reflect the aesthetic. I'm guessing this isn't what you're going for?