Killer Queen
Brief
Rebrand Macbeth
Year
2021
The challenge for this brief was to re-brand a production of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” Knee deep in COVID online school in my cold, North Dublin apartment, all I wanted, with every fiber of my being, was to have a good time. So, when I re-visited the plot of “Macbeth” and realized there was an angle to play up on Lady Macbeth as a “Killer Queen” for a Queen themed piece of dark comedy musical theater, I had no choice but to bring that idea to life.
The Process
Catering to the cult following was my first priority, so I felt that the design had to honor the superfan’s attention to detail. I chose to depict the classic car-sinking-in-the-bog scene, not only because it would be instantly recognizable to any fan of the film, but also because the license plate makes for an excellent piece of “Psycho” trivia.
Typography
As in the reimagined poster, I decided to lean on yellow for the lettering since color psychology indicates that it can evoke feelings of danger, fear and anxiety.
For the title type, I concentrated on the paper cutout lettering style of Saul Bass, who created the opening credits for “Psycho” and many other popular movies of the time. Since we are dealing with superfans, it felt right to draw inspiration from the original creatives.
Buttons, T-shirts, and tote bags— Oh my!
Somewhere over the rainbow a psychopathic queen is power-tripping in medieval Scotland. Fresh looks for a fresh take on a Shakespearean classic serve as cool streetwear, accessories, and, of course, walking advertisements.
Merchandise
Instagram & Website
