— Case Study 01
Sinners
Poster
Illustrated Movie Poster
— Case Study 01
Illustrated Movie Poster
— Overview
Many Sinners posters are crowded with images and heavy Photoshop effects. I wanted to take a different approach — creating a poster that tells a story through my own illustration style, using only two colors.
Strong colors and strong illustrative shapes should connect directly to the movie.
— Film Mood
I watched the movie twice to understand its mood and themes — finding tension and emotional depth throughout. These three words guided every decision.
— Step 01 / Sketching
Before opening Illustrator, every idea started on paper. 20+ thumbnails drawn fast and loose — getting as many compositions and character poses out as possible. Volume first, refinement later.
20+ hand-drawn thumbnail explorations
— Step 02 / Digital
The two strongest directions were taken into Adobe Illustrator. Working with flat red, black, and white shapes, I tested figure scale, negative space, and type placement.
Two directions explored in Adobe Illustrator
— Step 03 / Decisions
Three key decisions shaped the final poster.
— Solution
By limiting the color palette and focusing on shape and composition, I created a poster that clearly tells a story and evokes a strong emotional response. No photography. No gradients. Just two colors and strong illustration.
Poster Mockup — Photoshop, 2025