Mainframe Studios First Friday

Mainframe Studios is one of the largest non-profit art studios in the nation, providing permanent and affordable workspaces for hundreds of artists in Des Moines. They are known for their vibrant creative community and their visually iconic building.

The studio needed a unique poster design to advertise their First Friday event, which is a monthly opportunity for locals to tour the facility and view art. We needed to capture the essence of their most recognizable asset, the colorful geometric-painted exterior, without simply resorting to photography.

The design process began with an in-depth analysis of the studio's exterior to deconstruct its geometric patterns and bold color palette. These core shapes and angles were then abstracted and systematized to build the letterforms of a new custom display typeface.

The resulting poster provided Mainframe Studios with a powerful and original piece of visual communication that served as a true extension of its physical identity. The design was highly successful and won an award at the 52nd Annual Juried Student Exhibition.