Planet Propaganda: Posters & Program Profiled in Communications Arts Design Annual

(Madison, Wis.) — Three of Planet Propaganda’s designs will be recognized as examples of creative excellence in Communication Arts magazine’s Design Annual 47. Published in November, it is considered the graphic design industry’s “most coveted, respected and prestigious design competition in the world.” The annual will feature Planet’s work for American Players Theatre’s (APT’s) Book of Summer program preview brochure, Design Madison’s “Wooden Speaker” posters, and High Noon Saloon’s “Legendary Shack*Shakers” poster.

Enticing audiences with a preview of APT’s 2006 performances on the outdoor stage, Planet Propaganda’s principal/creative director Dana Lytle and designer/illustrator Curtis Jinkins created the piece as a tangible keepsake for audience members who return year-after-year. The theatre’s loyal following have established the Shakespearean repertory company of Spring Green, Wis., as one of the most popular outdoor classical theatres in the country. This year’s Book of Summer showcases woodcut illustrations capturing the interplay of Mother Nature and human nature. The hand-wrought artwork, ornamental borders and type treatment are presented in warm, textured colors to resemble the tactile character of screen-printed reproductions.

Calling attention to Design Madison’s mid-season guest speakers, Lytle and designer David Taylor created a series of posters that complemented the previously issued 2005-06 brochure. “The offset-printed flyer cast the professional association’s annual speaker line-up as creatures with hi-fi bodies and organic appendages cavorting on homey, wood-grained backgrounds,” explains Lytle. “For the posters, we dispensed with the litho’d paneling and silk-screened our speaker monsters directly onto plywood.”

For Madison’s rock venue High Noon Saloon, Planet Propaganda’s principal/creative director Kevin Wade also employed screen-printing techniques coupled with hand illustration to create the “Legendary Shack*Shakers” poster. “Shack*Shaker J.D. Wilkes, was described by Jello Biafra as ‘the last great rock and roll frontman,’ and makes a hell of an impression onstage,” says Wade. “For this gig poster, we went with a tried-and-true metaphor to convey the crazed, frenetic energy of Wilkes and the band.”

Planet’s three winning design entries are among only 2% of submissions selected from hundreds of designers in 20 countries that will appear in Communication Arts‘ Annual 47, making it among the most exclusive design competitions. Chosen by a jury of nine top design professionals, the winning work shown in Communication Arts’ 250-page Design Annual is the publication’s most popular edition of the year, reaching nearly 76,000 readers across the globe. To learn more about the publication and its competitions, please visit www.CommArts.com.


Planet Propaganda is a design, advertising and interactive company committed to shaping passion-based brands. Founded in 1989 in Madison, Wis., Planet’s national clients include Gary Fisher mountain bikes, Bretford furniture and workspaces, PunchStock images, and Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches. For more information, please visit www.PlanetPropaganda.com.