Art Deco Night Out on the Moon
CASE STUDY
ESP
PERSONAL WORK
Since 2023, I've had the pleasure to be a part of the Maker Division community, led by mentors Stephanie Owens and Ben Burns.
From the moment Stephanie occasionally mentioned the possibility of proposing an Art Deco-themed challenge for the A-Team on one of our regular Friday group calls, my interest started growing; and when the Portfolio Party 001 brief was published, and Art Deco was confirmed, I knew I had to be a part of it.
I created a landscape illustration for a fictitious locale I named "Eclipse", this place is a high-class theme restaurant oozing with Art Deco vibe, focused on taking its customers to an unforgettable night on the moon. The piece was created with flexibility of use in mind.
SCOPE
Illustration
Hand-drawn Logo
Fly Me to the Moon
EXPOSITION
To me, Art Deco is synonymous with one game franchise: Bioshock. Being one of the best games from the modern era, it caught the imagination of millions of players with its stunning atmosphere and lore.
Bioshock - Xbox 360 Cover (2007) by 2K Games
The luxurious, mysterious, and opulent vibe with a touch of melancholy from Art Deco is alluring enough, but when I read Ben and Stephanie proposed the name "Moonstone Supper Club" for the restaurant, I immediately knew where I was headed... I was going to the moon. **Cue "Fly me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra**
The Moon is brimming with lore, so I had no trouble finding inspiration from mythology, nature, and history to design the ornaments, clothing, accessories, decorations, and characters. Black Swifts took the main stage because they are known for flying high in the sky on full moon nights; mayflies became pendants, and I turned the legend of the Moon cat into a giant robot guardian.
Art Deco represents decades of history, so I delved deep into research for clothing, drinks, and architecture. Taking inspiration from shows like Mad Men and artists like Erté, to create posh characters with attitude, nursing classic drinks like a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned.
Left to right
Mad Men (2007); The Cincinnati Union Terminal (1933); Erté illustration book; The Great Gatsby (2013)
Opulent Lunar Landing
THE PROCESS
The "Space Big Daddy" was important to get just right; I designed it as a blend of a classic Bioshock Big Daddy and an astronaut. It's bulky but elegant, capable of serving drinks as a waiter (anybody care for an Aviation or a French 75?) for a moment, and then jumping into battle to neutralize a threat the next instant.
For the buildings, I replicated the aesthetic of an ultra-wide panoramic photo by using a joint double 2-point vanish point perspective, sharing a vanish point in the center.
Then, I added bright, neon lights and reflectors to turn the skyline into a majestic sight. The background is layered from back to front, starting from the lunar surface, then the buildings, and finally the restaurant's interior.
I took inspiration from Art Deco posters and signs to craft the lettering and eventually the logo for the restaurant.
I chose to draw tall, slender, sans-serif letters with geometrical forms and high contrast, to match the elegance of the locale. I selected the name "Eclipse" as a symbol of something that makes the others look less important in comparison; a supper club that outshines the competition, hence the tagline: "Nothing compares."
Drowning in Moonlight
THE OUTCOME
I wanted it to work as a mural, but the assets can be used independently to make posters, merch, packaging, and more. I made sure to infuse every inch with Art Deco traits (geometric forms, epic structures, symmetry, and over-the-top elegance).
Art Deco architecture:
tall, luxurious buildings with symmetrical decorations and bright lights.
Glowing effects:
buildings, reflectors, and cyborg lights are enhanced with glow filters.
Art Deco patterns:
intricate figures, repeating symmetrical designs, and checkered floors.
Black swift motif:
representing the desire to reach the moon. Depicted as statues, rail decorations, and the spaceship in the background.
The mockups take us on a journey, starting from the restaurant's outer walls, passing through the entrance, taking a look at the posters in the waiting lounge, looking in awe at the massive ceiling painting in the main hall, taking a seat at our table, and concluding with a scenic view of the ample dining space.
