Merlefest posters
What is Merlefest?
MerleFest is a nationally renowned, four-day music festival held each spring in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, celebrating the rich traditions and evolving sounds of American roots music. Founded in 1988 by legendary guitarist Doc Watson in memory of his son, Eddy Merle Watson, the festival has grown into one of the country’s premier gatherings for traditional music, blending bluegrass, folk, country, blues, and rock across multiple stages.
My Inspiration
For this project in particular, I wanted to take inspiration from a famous graphic designer named Saul Bass. Saul Bass has a particular style, characterized by a simple color palette, bold geometric shapes, and a strong emphasis on movement and visual storytelling. His work often uses minimal elements to communicate complex ideas, relying on contrast, abstraction, and striking composition to capture attention. Drawing from these principles, I aimed to create a design that feels both modern and intentional, using limited color, clean forms, and dynamic layout.
My process for determining the most effective Saul Bass–inspired poster involved developing a wide range of sketches, exploring varied layouts, compositions, and geometric forms. While my intention was to reflect Bass’s distinctive visual language, I also aimed to ensure the final designs remained authentic to MerleFest’s identity. To achieve this balance, I incorporated key elements associated with the festival, including musical instruments, nature settings, and MerleFest’s mascot, Flattop the raccoon, allowing the work to feel both stylistically cohesive and contextually relevant.
My Process
