Jim O’Halloran Quartet at Bradner Gardens
Client: Jim O’Halloran Quartet, Seattle, WA
Timeline: July 2025
Format: 8.5 x 11 poster
Overview: This poster was designed to promote a live jazz performance by the Jim O’Halloran Quartet at Bradner Gardens, an outdoor venue known for its windmill landmark and open, communal setting. The composition uses bold geometric forms, saturated color fields, and strong directional lines to evoke the syncopated rhythms, improvisation, and surprise inherent in jazz. Circular photo crops and intersecting angles create visual counterpoint—mirroring the interplay between musicians—while the vibrant palette ensures visibility in an outdoor environment. Subtle references to the garden setting, including the windmill silhouette and organic textures, anchor the design to place while reinforcing the energy and spontaneity of live performance.
Design Approach: The layout is built around a system of angled planes and rhythmic line work that guide the viewer’s eye across the poster in a dynamic, off-beat cadence. Geometric shapes function as visual accents—much like musical hits—punctuating performer portraits and text without overwhelming them. A high-contrast color palette was chosen to maintain clarity at distance, while textured overlays soften the geometry and connect the design to the natural setting of Bradner Gardens. The result balances structure and improvisation, echoing the tension between form and spontaneity in jazz.