Project Scope
Logo Design
Graphic Design
Role
Independent Designer
Timeline
1 week
This was a project in which I redesigned a promotional poster for Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Fighting Oligarchy” tour as an old western-style graphic. The goal was to explore different ways in which a political poster could be re-imagined with a more cinematic and unexpected visual direction.
Deliverables included:
✅ An event poster for marketing and promotional purposes
Inspiration
I drew inspiration primarily from the visual style of the Red Dead Redemption video game poster. The game’s themes of justice, rebellion, and standing up against powerful forces felt like a natural parallel to the messaging behind the Bernie Sanders and AOC tour.
I built the visual concept around an Old West aesthetic, framing Bernie and AOC as modern political cowboys challenging powerful elites. This direction intentionally subverts the traditional look of political campaign posters, which often rely heavily on patriotic symbols and predictable layouts. Instead, I leaned into a tongue-in-cheek motif that feels bold, cinematic, and visually distinct while still communicating the underlying message of justice and resistance.
Color Studies
Although red, white, and blue are classic choices for American political posters, I chose to omit blue entirely, and instead leaned fully into a bold red color for the background to capture the passion and intensity of the campaign. A warm golden sun behind the figures introduces contrast and symbolism—representing hope and a rising movement.
I also used a muted earth and parchment tones to reflect the vintage poster style. The slightly faded colors reinforce the Old West theme while maintaining strong visual contrast, keeping the focus on the subjects while maintaining a gritty, poster-like aesthetic reminiscent of screen-printed protest graphics.
Together, the palette balances intensity and optimism, visually reinforcing the poster’s message of collective action and forward movement.
The final poster design.
Poster Design
I wanted the poster to immediately catch the viewer’s attention and feel different from a typical political advertisement. The western theme introduces an element of surprise and humor while still reinforcing the idea of standing up to powerful systems and fighting for justice.
The design is also meant to resonate with younger audiences by presenting political messaging through a more modern, stylized, and culturally recognizable visual language. To support this, I illustrated stylized portraits of Bernie Sanders and AOC that serve as the central visual focus of the poster. By framing them as larger-than-life figures, the composition emphasizes their role in energizing and mobilizing younger generations to get involved and vote.
Old West–style fonts reinforce the theme and maintain readability. Limiting the design to two primary typefaces helped keep the layout balanced and visually clear. A bullet hole detail in the “O” of Oligarchy adds a subtle thematic element that ties into the western motif.
Crisp, white typography contrasts strongly against the darker background to ensure key messaging stands out. The desaturated American flag in the background adds visual context and implied texture without overpowering the main subjects.