Unity

(series) Mike Meadus, designer/writer/illustrator

Mark Lovely/Mike Meadus, art directors/creative directors

McCann Canada (Calgary, Canada), agency

Kent of Inglewood, client

"From a series of 40 posters created for Kent of Inglewood. It may be Canada's shave shop, but it also has men's backs—and faces—with the world's finest grooming products to keep beards soft, lush and styled." 24 x 24, 2 PMS Colors.

Mike Meadus created a clean and unassuming piece, that manages to be tightly unified. Upon a closer look the contrast draws the eye from the center focal point downward. Every shape is set upon an invisible grid. Shapes are placed symmetrically to one another and on any give horizontal line, the shapes do not vary in size and are repeated. Only a single shape is used to create the primary image, a circle. Upon initial view, the image may appear to be something of a simple shape, or square. Given a split second, the eye moves toward the focal point which is defined by tight grouping, and a single large -- nearly -- semi-circle gap below the "mustache" and "beard." Likewise, to the so-to-speak invisible grid, the outlying shapes are constrained by an invisible rectangle, centering an framing the image by leaving equal negative space above, below, and to the sides. The illusion of a thick beard is given by tightly grouping circles. The composition creates closure by guiding the eye from larger, tightly grouped shapes down to smaller, looser shapes near the bottom. Creating a top-down movement. Continuity is achieved through the use of repeated shapes, and symmetry, but is briefly broken to create a focal point. However, the overall image appears unified, in terms of gestalt principles, as larger image it almost comes off as a simple brown rectangular shape among a green background.