ABOUT:

This project was conducted on behalf of the Graphic Design program at the Mississippi State University College of Art, Architecture, and Design under instruction of Assistant Professor Aubrey Pohl. These posters are designed for print as well as to funciton in Augmented Reality.

In the past (and present for that matter), this project has been focused on the observation and appreciation of Mississippi's Black History, via the creation of historical research informed poster design.

This year's theme focuses on a reflection of the history and impact of Mississippi's gospel music, namely the music of Annie and the Caldwells, a family gospel group based in West Point, MS, who has found impact and success across the globe. Each student has taken a unique approach to the task of research informed graphic poster design, and we are honored to share the outputs with you.

The posters are available for purchase. If you are interested in purchasing a poster, please reach out to Professor Aubrey Pohl with the name of the student designer at apohl@caad.msstate.edu

MSU CAAD / caad.msstate.edu

Black Prairie Blues Museum / blackprairiebluesmuseum.com

Aubrey Pohl/ apohl.xyz SHAUHA.US

EXHIBIT - BLACK PRAIRIE BLUES MUSEUM / WEST POINT, MS
MARCH 20 / 2-4PM

THANKS:

A special thanks to all who came before us, who have helped to pave the way for a new Mississippi, one that is inclusive to every human being regardless of race or creed.

A special thanks to Annie Caldwell, and the Caldwells!


Madie Comer


INSTAGRAM

I wanted to focus on the idea that no one’s story is polished or perfect. While researching my poster, I was drawn to the rawness in Annie and the Caldwells’ music. This inspired me to hand illustrate every element to reflect that authenticity. To further support this motif, I included a dove and a hanger as symbols of their faith and life beyond music.


Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Skyler Rahim


INSTAGRAM

My poster was inspired by the quote “…songs that are as much at home in a church of God as in the church of the dance floor. (Luka Bop)”When we all spoke with Miss Annie, she expressed how much she loved her family and I wanted to include that. The motif of the church represents her faith, and the motif of the dance floor represents their lively music. I chose CMYK for bright colors that attract the eye.


Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Brittney sizemore


INSTAGRAM

I want to focus into women in music so I picked a pair of heels, one for the women, but also the showcase Annie and their fashion.


Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Hillary May


INSTAGRAM

This poster pays tribute to Annie and the Caldwell’s “Can’t Lose My Soul.” Inspired by sheet music, it depicts my favorite lyric of hers in which she declares she “ain’t going to hell y’all.” The bright color scheme was intended to reflect the joyful boldness of her declaration.


Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Carlee Evans


INSTAGRAM

For my poster design, I wanted to focus on the term “disco soul” that Annie and the Caldwells used to describe their music. The chosen color palette was based on clothing colors that was mentioned on their website. The disco ball and the stained glass window are showing the two sides of their music: disco soul and gospel.


Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Taylor Babbitt


INSTAGRAM

In my poster, I wanted to focus on the roots and history of Annie and the Caldwells in regards to Mississippi, as well as African American individuals. All of the colors in my poster and taken from, and inspired by, the Black American Heritage flag, the Pan-African flag, and the African American flag. The abstract shapes and flowing structures represent the fabrics used in their clothing store, and I added Clay County in the center with a star representing West Point, Mississippi.


Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Kambrie LaFontaine


INSTAGRAM

In my poster design, I wanted to represent Annie and the Caldwells through motifs of femininity, faith, and music. I wanted the aesthetic of my design to match the vivid and groovy nature of the music itself, so I went more abstract, creating an amalgamation of instruments I noticed in the music and the side profile of a woman, along with a saturated, feminine color palette. I surrounded that with vines of thorns, representing sin and mistakes, with flowers blooming off of them, representing accountability and growth. “What does it mean to seek God as a woman,” was a quote that stuck out to me in the bio page of Annie and the Caldwells’ website, and I wanted to communicate it through how I interpreted their music.


Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Madison Sherrill


INSTAGRAM

For my poster, I wanted to incorporate a lot of layering to show the fact that Annie and her family are interweaved throughout every part of their performances. My other major concept was to show how the music makes people feel; with a groovy yet powerful feeling. My process involved creating a digital layout, cutting out all the pieces with a laser cutter, recreating the poster with the analog pieces, and scanning it back in digitally.

Aly Hester


INSTAGRAM

"My poster explores the roots of gospel music through the visual language of traditional hymnal songs. I used the song Child of God and transformed it into sheet music as a central element of the design. The process involved breaking down letterforms and arranging them in patterns that mimic musical flow, almost like a visual chorus. "


Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Hugh Covington


INSTAGRAM

I wanted to capture the sound and feel of the music of Annie and the Caldwells. To me, their music was amazing collaboration of a family to deliver a beautiful message. To represent this, I created repeating “loud” colorful shapes that I felt visually communicated a similar feeling to listening to the music of Annie and the Caldwells.


Rebekah Russell


INSTAGRAM

"The patterns I used are representative of the 70s and show interconnectedness, reflecting how the family is intertwined and builds off one another, also inspired by patterns on Annie’s clothes. My colors are blue for the soul (deep and rich), yellow for joy and light associated with Christianity, and orange for energy and the 70s disco vibe in their music."


Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

kayani Carthen Qualls


INSTAGRAM

Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Hannah Johnson


INSTAGRAM

Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Emily Loveless


INSTAGRAM

Eli Rowell


INSTAGRAM

Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Thao Tran


INSTAGRAM

The concept highlights the strength and unity of family. It features a mother and her children, showing how family members come together and support each other . The collage uses many split images that, when combined, form a single, unified image, symbolizing how each individual is an essential part of the whole.


Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Lily Weaver


INSTAGRAM

Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Molly Brown


INSTAGRAM

Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Baker Hall


INSTAGRAM

Kyle Alexander


INSTAGRAM

Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Katie Sherard


INSTAGRAM

Click the below link and point your phone at the printed poster to view in augmented reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Anna Elliott


INSTAGRAM