During the sketching process, I began researching notable graphic designers in a bid to hone my personal style and I became intrigued by the style of graphic designer Tad Carpenter. The final layout for the DBT flier borrows heavily from a series of posters he created for Conan O’Brien’s 2011 summer concert series, particularly the bold, slanted text in the main heading.

Similarly to Carpenter, this design leans heavily on illustrations to create a whimsical vibe that makes the prospect of group therapy a little less daunting and a little more, dare I say, fun. I also wanted the illustrations to tell a story. I decided to expand on the metaphor of therapy “untangling the brain” by creating several scenarios in which the patient's brain is untangled as they talk to their therapist. I also chose to illustrate these scenarios occurring in a familiar outdoor setting to evoke feelings of peace and comfort within the viewer. 

When choosing colors, I created several swatches with my drawings in ProCreate before ultimately deciding to use the Desert Natural color palette by Sereth Design (with a few tweaks). This palette is bright yet tranquil, and is reminiscent of nature. This further enhances the setting within the illustrations.

Since the characters would be interacting with the main heading text, I sought out a bold font that wasn't too thick, as I wanted to create some balance between the text and illustrations. Azo Sans Black fit the bill. Azo Sans is so clean and crisp and has quickly become a personal favorite of mine. I also used Azo Sans Italic and Bold for the subheadings.

For the second heading, I wanted to juxtapose the geometric typeface of the main heading with a warmer, more whimsical option to match the vibe of the illustrations. After some experimenting, I chose Carraque Bold Solid, a rounded font that packs a playful punch.