M(AD) WOMEN DEFINE MODERN ADVERTISING

Women in Advertising Senior Thesis

A design project that focused on the biography of women in the advertising industry in the early-mid 20th century. Deliverables included booklets, posters, and postcards.

PROCESS BOOK HERE

Approach

While embarking on the journey towards my BFA senior thesis, I found myself drawn towards the world of advertising. Graphic design plays an instrumental part in the history of advertising and I wanted to add a feminist lens to the exploration of this history.

I am a nerd for research and it was a joy to spend countless hours diving into the lives and accomplishments of these industry pioneers.

I approached the visual language by using many elements that reference the mid-century design of the time and combining them with the contemporary sensibility. Colors and graphic illustrations were ascribed to each woman, yet all were connected to the visual branding of the project.

My work aimed to present my research to offer insight into the women behind the campaigns we still see today, provide a critique of an industry that shapes our long-held perceptions of gender, and inspire other women and girls who wish to follow in my subjects' footsteps.

Challenges

The challenges faced pertained to the limited time given to complete this project. The history of this industry is rich in lore and interesting characters and there was so much of it I would have wanted to include in the project. People dedicate entire careers to it, yet I was limited to just a few months. So, I had to be selective in who I focused on which was difficult.

Scaling back also had to be done when considering the graphic elements chosen. The style was collage-like in its approach to illustration and I had to be careful not to go too maximalist with the design which risked distracting from the information.

booklet covers

inside spreads preview

inspirational posters

post cards

collage brainstorming exercise

graphic motifs and collage style illustrations

early design explorations