With New York Fashion Week ending last Thursday, we want to reflect on the countless hours of dedication it takes to put an iconic event like this into motion. While fashion designers are clearly the highlight of the show, graphic designers also play a key role in creating a lasting impression of the event.
Making a statement is what graphic design is all about; and when married with fashion, creativity thrives. With major industry leaders in fashion demanding another “statement piece” from graphic designers, the standard for promotional pieces for Fashion Week, such as show invitations, is set very high. Reaching this high standard and balancing the client’s vision with their own design aesthetic is a challenge for graphic designers.
In a recent interview by Thread NY’s Catherine Blair Pfander, graphic designer Rob Repta sheds some light what goes in, and comes out, of the job of creating Fashion Week invitations.
“A designer’s aesthetic will always show through no matter what, because it’s part of the designer. However, it’s our job to take the brand’s look, feel, and the message it embodies, in order to interpret it in a creative new way. It’s not about what they want or what I want, it needs to be a collaborative effort.”
Rob Repta goes on to quote the late, great Tibor Kalman in regards to presenting a memorable Fashion Week invitation, saying, “The difference between good design and great design is intelligence.”
When fashion and design meet, it can help us look at design differently. Check out this slideshow of the 12 best invitations from 2010 Fashion Week, hand picked by fashion blog Refinery29!
