Behind the Design | Wes Anderson Color Block Concept

Copper Antler Photography

In the summer of 2023, OSO IN LOVE had the opportunity to design and coordinate an editorial shoot for WEDPLAN Madison’s Wedding Planner & Guide magazine. OSO IN LOVE teamed up with ten wedding services businesses to bring to life a concept assigned by the publisher. WEDPLAN was looking for a fully realized design inspired by the style of film director Wes Anderson. The other requirement was that the color story needed to be a color block design featuring the colors purple and orange.

When creating a design proposal, I draw inspiration from a variety of sources. My biggest inspiration though comes from architectural and interior design. Researching true to era paint swatches, fabrics, furniture styles and architectural elements can provide a wealth of knowledge while also serving up some solid justification for your design choices. So when I was approached by WEDPLAN to create the design for this shoot, I started my research right away and my initial instincts were spot on.

Bauhaus - a style design and décor is a term describing the furniture, objects, graphic art, and interiors that were created as a result of the influential early 20th century design and architecture movement named after the German school founded by architect Walter Gropius.

Bauhaus was a rational, functional design aesthetic that took a form follows function, less is more approach that made a resurgence in the 1970's and still resonates today . The style is characterized by a lack of ornament and focus on clean lines that reduce forms to their essential elements. Bauhaus design, art and architecture often features simple geometric forms such as triangles, squares and circles. Use of bold but sparing pops of colors in a color block style is also a key element to this style.

The director Wes Anderson utilizes many of the same techniques in his films. Anderson's style is rooted in "formalism," the opposite of "realism." In formalism, the focus is more on form and function rather than achieving a realistic image. His use of the popular Bauhaus style font "Futura" in his films, adoption of the use of color blocking in set design and character development, and frequent use of center frame shooting, also helps to define his unique style.

The Bauhaus style and Wes Anderson served as the compass for this styled shoot. The bold 70's inspired color story of purple and orange in the color block style, as well as lines and arch shapes were incorporated throughout the venue, print materials, and more. To create a fantastical atmosphere rooted in the 1970's disco era, iridescent inflated balls and moody colored lighting and projections were used.

Sydney Clarson LLC