Detroit Opera House
Detroit Opera House
All’s Fair in Love and War
For this project in Experimental Typography, I was tasked with creating a poster and program for the Detroit Opera House’s performance of Carmen. First performed in 1875, Carmen is one of the world’s most famous operas, a story of love, obsession, and tragedy set against the vibrant backdrop of Seville, Spain.
My process began with typographic experiments, exploring expressive forms that could capture both the drama and intensity of the story. I developed progress studies and type-setting tests before moving into final layouts. The strategy was to let the typography become the main storyteller: bold, emotive, and theatrical, mirroring the opera’s spirit.
The final outcome was a cohesive poster and program system that combined striking experimental type with intentional hierarchy, creating a design that felt both contemporary and true to the timeless power of Carmen.
THE FINAL PROGRAM
The finished program was designed as a companion piece to the poster, carrying the same dramatic typographic voice throughout its pages. Careful attention to hierarchy and layout ensured the information remained accessible while still capturing the energy of the performance. The result is a program that feels both functional and expressive, giving audiences a tactile introduction to Carmen before the curtain even rises.
BEHIND THE PROCESS
This section highlights my process work, including early sketches, type-setting experiments, and layout studies. Exploring different letterforms and compositions allowed me to push the boundaries of expression before arriving at the final design. These progress pieces show how experimentation shaped the visual language of the project.
