Jim O’Halloran Quintet at Bradner Gardens
Client: Jim O’Halloran Quintet, Seattle, WA
Timeline: July 2026
Format: 8.5 x 11 poster
Overview: This is the latest in an ongoing series of annual concert posters designed for Jim O'Halloran's ensemble at Bradner Gardens Park in Seattle. Created to promote the group's 2026 outdoor summer performance, the poster celebrates the intersection of jazz, community, and the natural landscape. Inspired by the garden setting, the composition combines expressive botanical illustration with layered typography and a vibrant color palette to capture the warmth, spontaneity, and energy of the event.
A central illustration of Queen Anne's lace—selected after research into native and naturalized Pacific Northwest flora—creates a visual bridge between music and place. Supporting performer portraits and carefully organized event information establish a clear visual hierarchy while inviting viewers into the experience.
Design Approach: The poster balances expressive illustration with structured typography to create a composition that is both lively and highly readable. Bold color contrasts draw attention from a distance, while layered textures and translucent forms add depth without competing with the primary message. The botanical illustration serves as both a symbolic and compositional anchor, leading the eye naturally through the performer lineup and event details.
Throughout the design process, close collaboration with the client refined both the visual language and the featured imagery, ensuring the final artwork reflected the character of Bradner Gardens as well as the welcoming spirit of the performance. The resulting design combines contemporary poster aesthetics with a strong sense of place, reinforcing the event's identity while remaining practical for print, social media, and community distribution.
Outcome: The final poster was produced for both print and web distribution and continues an ongoing creative collaboration with Jim O'Halloran's annual Bradner Gardens concert series. Through several rounds of refinement, the design evolved to better reflect both the character of the venue and the welcoming atmosphere of the annual summer performance.
Previous Year's Poster (2025)
Earlier iteration in the annual concert series, illustrating the evolution of the visual identity.