Be My Valentine: A Typographic Poster on Persuasion, Emotion, and Cultural Commentary

Project Brief

A typography-driven communication project where students use persuasion, tone, and visual hierarchy to craft emotionally resonant messages across print and digital platforms.

Typography is often introduced as a system of rules governing hierarchy, readability, and structure. While these fundamentals are essential, typography is also a powerful tool for persuasion, emotion, and cultural commentary.

This project invites students to design a typography-driven poster inspired by the cultural phenomenon of Valentine’s Day. The assignment begins with a class discussion examining the history of the holiday and the typographic influence of Robert Indiana, whose iconic LOVE sculpture demonstrates how simple letterforms can become powerful symbols of emotion and identity that cross the boundaries of languages and cultures.

Students then reinterpret themes of love, romance, persuasion, or critique through a typographic poster concept of their own. The assignment challenges them to think about how typography communicates tone, narrative, and intention, while also considering how design functions across both physical and digital contexts.

Rather than focusing purely on aesthetics, students must craft a poster that clearly communicates a call to action, reinforcing the idea that design is fundamentally about communication.

SPECIFICATIONS

Students design a typography-forward poster based on one of three narrative prompts related to Valentine’s Day.

Format

Poster size: 11 × 17 inches

Resolution: 300 DPI

Primary software: Adobe Illustrator (with Photoshop permitted for image editing)

Typography Requirement

Typography must remain the primary visual element. Imagery or illustration may be included, but it should support the typographic concept rather than replace it.

Students must also adapt their design for digital presentation, creating a square version optimized for social media.

PROJECT THEMES

Students choose one of three creative scenarios:

Love Declaration Poster:

A chance encounter has left you without a way to reconnect with someone you met. Your only option is a poster campaign designed to capture their attention and encourage them to contact you.

Love Potion Campaign:

Students imagine they have been hired by a luxury Parisian brand to launch a fictional elixir of love. The poster must communicate the product name, benefits, and a compelling call to action.

Let’s Hate on Love

Students create a typographic protest poster critiquing Valentine’s Day, whether from heartbreak, satire, or commentary on the commercialization of romance.

Each prompt encourages students to use typography to convey emotion, humor, irony, or persuasion.

PROCESS

Step 1. Concept Development

Students select a theme and define the tone and narrative direction of their poster.

Step 2. Research and Moodboard

Students gather visual references exploring typography, color, composition, and cultural tone related to their concept.

Step 3. Sketching and Layout Exploration

Initial sketches explore typographic hierarchy, message clarity, and visual structure.

Step 4. Poster Development

Students develop a full poster design using typography as the primary visual element.

Step 5. Digital Adaptation

Students create a square image with a mock up of the poster in a “real life setting” for social media distribution.

Learning Objectives

• To explore typography as a tool for communication and persuasion
• To develop a typographic poster that combines concept, hierarchy, and visual impact
• To practice translating ideas into clear visual narratives
• To understand how typography functions across print and digital platforms
• To strengthen students’ ability to articulate and defend their design decisions

Deliverables

Students submit

1. A designed 11 × 17 inches Poster created in Adobe Illustrator

2. A square image with a mock up of the poster in a “real life setting” for social media distribution.

2. A presentation and PDF that includes:

• Cover page with project information
• Moodboard and conceptual direction
• Creative rationale explaining design decisions
• Final poster design
• Instagram-ready square version
• Poster mockup placed within a real-world context

Students present the project in class, explaining their design process and typographic choices.

Readings/Resources

The Surprising History of Robert Indiana's "Love" Sculptures

Learn how the iconic LOVE sculptures by Robert Indiana, an American artist, came to be. Discover the origins, design, popularity, and legacy of these Pop Art masterpieces.

https://mymodernmet.com/love-sculpture-robert-indiana/

Reflections

Poster design provides an ideal framework for teaching typography because it requires students to balance message clarity, visual hierarchy, and conceptual thinking within a single composition.

This assignment works particularly well because the cultural familiarity of Valentine’s Day gives students an accessible starting point while still allowing room for humor, critique, and storytelling. The prompts encourage students to think about typography not only as form but as a vehicle for persuasion and emotional tone.

Students often begin by focusing on decorative elements, but quickly discover that the effectiveness of their poster depends on how clearly their typographic hierarchy communicates the message. This realization reinforces the central lesson of the project. Typography is not simply about letterforms. It is about communication.

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