In order to send the message about the importance of voting to those who don’t feel the need to vote, I focused on what colors, graphics, and textures I wanted to include in my PSA. The design is centered around multiple mics pointing towards an empty podium. This addresses how the viewers fill this empty space. The microphone is a call to action for the viewers to speak up for their views by voting. To emphasize this empty space, I experimented with negative space around the center, which is the focal point. I used bold shades of red and blue from the American flag. The bold red in the background represents the urgency of this issue as well as the need for action. The blue rectangle at the top balances out the harsh red, and it catches the eye of the viewer. The words “vote” is thoughtfully placed as it captures the main message of the PSA. I used an effect similar to a threshold effect to add value to the microphones, which contrast with the flat colors. This effect also adds a dramatic feel to the design.
To form shapes using Illustrator with strong definition, I relied on paths and shapes which show a clear border between different colors. For the shading of the microphone, I added darker values to where the shadows were on the microphone. This was the hardest part of the project because of the heavy detail involved. I used a reference picture with a threshold effect to use as a base for the graphic. I also struggled with how to fill the space of the PSA. I experimented with which spaces needed to be filled or open. To balance the designs, I moved around the text to fill up the unneeded negative space.
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