I spent a semester researching and emulating the work of Antoni Gaudi, a Spanish architect who designed fabulously elaborate buildings. He was nicknamed “God’s Architect” for his ambitious, reverent projects, namely the Sagrada Família basilica in Barcelona. I collected information about Gaudi’s life, philosophy, and architectural designs before starting work on the three projects summarized below.
EXPERIMENTAL CUBE
This interactive piece was designed to reflect the authentic, boundless energy of Antoni Gaudi's architecture. Each side of the cube functions both as its own composition and as part of the whole cube. I experimented with different weights, typefaces, and combinations to better understand that three-dimensional relationship. Looking at Gaudi's work, I was stunned by the chromatic range and all the tiny details. Many of his buildings are covered in bits of broken mosaic, which I incorporated into my cube design along with one of Gaudi's most beloved creations – "El Drac," a salamander sculpture in Park Güell.
EXPERIMENTAL BOOK
The "Language of Nature" booklet is an exploration of interactive compositions and unexpected layouts. I used craft paper and French folds to create page spreads that illustrate Gaudi's life and philosophy. I hand-bound this booklet with spiral binding so the pages would turn easily and lay flat. The rich, newspapery texture of the craft paper, bright complementary colors, and dramatic images highlight Gaudi's work in a visually and physically appealing format. Combining contrasting fonts proved especially effective in this project.
ARCHITECT POSTER
This project's purpose was to explore compositional hierarchies of type and image and to develop an understanding of the unique qualities of a large-format space. The poster's two main typefaces contrast dramatically, establishing a sense of permanence and stability that reflects Gaudi's lasting architectural creations. I designed the poster in the Art Nouveau style, as Gaudi’s architecture was created during the same time period as Nouveau and is often considered the architectural version of the elaborate, graceful designs. In this poster, I was able to take a step back and begin to represent the scale of the architect's work.
