Milwaukee Tattoo Fest Poster
This poster reimagines the iconic “Mom” tattoo motif — two birds holding a ribbon threaded through a heart — a symbol universally recognized in traditional tattoo art. By rendering the design with stencil-like textures and cutout edges, the poster also references the foundational tool used by all tattoo artists: the stencil. This fusion of classic symbolism and modern execution highlights the diversity of styles celebrated at the Milwaukee Tattoo Fest, honoring the shared tools and heritage that unite all tattoo forms.
Moodboard
I explored three distinct visual directions for this project. The first concept was inspired by festival culture, mimicking the look of premade stencils kept in a tattoo artist’s flash binder. The second took a vintage approach, drawing from traditional tattoo aesthetics and classic poster lettering. The final direction aimed for a 'freshly inked' look using a vibrant purple to replicate a newly applied tattoo stencil. While the execution of the third style didn't fully realize my initial vision, the exploration yielded valuable creative insights.
Sketches
These sketches illustrate the progression of my design process. The concept evolved from the initial festival-sticker approach, transitioned through vintage typography experiments, and ultimately culminated in a classic, 'Mom'-style traditional tattoo aesthetic.
