This month, we’re highlighting the brand we created for the Taft Building. At the intersection of Hollywood and Vine, this creative office is an icon of Hollywood history. Home to the offices of Charlie Chaplin, Will Rogers, and the Academy of Motion Pictures, the Taft Building has earned its place in the movie business.
We crafted a position, identity, website and print collateral for the building to support leasing initiatives. To harken back to its star studded past, we designed a brochure that folds out like a movie poster. In thinking about our design, we poured over tons of classic movie posters. We love when beautiful design occurs in unexpected places. Here’s a collection of some of our favorite posters.
Metropolis (1927)
There are just four known surviving copies of this version of the poster for Metropolis, the sci-fi dystopian film which was at the time one of the most expensive movies ever made. The poster, too, is one of the most expensive ever sold at auction– $1.2 million. Designed by German graphic artist Heinz Schulz-Neudamm, it has a distinctly Art Deco look.
Go West Young Man (1936)
This highly stylized graphic of Mae West was unique for at a time when movie posters were largely illustrative. We love the classic lettering and the bold red background.
Sunset Blvd (1950)
This magnificent poster is one of the most important in the film noir genre. The knotted film strip cuts across the image, and the juxtaposition of the characters immediately creates a sense of intrigue.
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
Designed by Saul Bass, this graphic poster uses just three colors and blocked shapes to set the mood. We love the powerful simplicity of this design.
Vertigo (1958)
Another iconic design by Saul Bass, this incredible mid-century modern graphic speaks volumes using only simple lines. It’s abstract and doesn’t even show the main celebrities, making it a rarity of movie posters of the time. For an interesting read, check out this article on how the design of the Vertigo poster shifted to appeal to audiences around the world.
What’s your favorite movie poster? We’d love to know.
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