Akiko Stehrenberger

The artwork and design for Movie Posters not only involves a unique vision but also an artistic aesthetic that can translate a film to a work of art. It truly takes a visionary to be able to successfully create a timeless poster that visually captures the essence of a movie. With that said, some of the most artistic and masterful Movie Posters over the past 15 years have been designed by Award-Winning Illustrator and Art Director, Akiko Stehrenberger.

In an exclusive interview with Interiors, we talked to Akiko Stehrenberger about her art, her process and her inspirations. Her book, Akikomatic: The Work of Akiko Stehrenberger, is now available.

INT: When did you first realize that you wanted to do Art? Were you always interested in Movie Posters? What are some of your favorite Movie Posters/Artwork?

AS: I grew up seeing my dad over his drafting desk, and my mother was always interested in creative hobbies. I couldn’t help but pick some of that up by osmosis as a young girl. I was incredibly shy as a kid, and drawing somehow led me to making friends (and still does). I never thought I’d make a career out of it until high school when I realized I wasn’t very interested in anything else.

My dad loved James Bond. I remember loving the posters of the Roger Moore era (because I grew up to them), especially Octopussy and A View to a Kill. However, my interest in movie posters didn’t come until much later. In the beginning of my movie poster career, I became obsessed with Polish posters and they’re still a huge influence in my work today.

INT: The Illustrations and Movie Posters that you create are masterful. When doing Movie Posters, is there a certain concept or idea that you are looking for when you watch/think/learn about the Film?

AS: Concept is so important in my work. When watching a film, I usually come up with so many ideas and don’t give myself limitations at first. Often the most ridiculous concepts spark others. I narrow them down before presenting to a client. My goal is to find a visual idea that hints at the root of the film or at least causes intrigue for the viewer. My goal is not only to make something eye catching, but something that makes the viewer think or look for things. Since I am able to do so many painting styles, curating the right technique can often make the concept so much stronger.

INT: The process of going from concept and idea to the final design can be very fulfilling. Out of all the Movie Posters that you’ve created, is there 1 or 2 that stand out as being particularly satisfying?

AS: Conceptually, Colossal is one of my favorites. I was so happy Neon let me do something so simple. It’s a film about a woman and a monster. I was so excited when I came up with and was able to make the shape of the monster in the negative space of the main character’s hair from the film. I chose a look that felt like a Polish poster since the movie was gritty. Also, this concept couldn’t have worked if I didn’t use a minimalist painting style.

More recently, I am proud of my secondary poster for The Last Black Man in San Francisco. I thought the main character standing on a steep hill was metaphoric of so many things in the film. It touched on some of the surreal moments in the film, it represented his uphill battle, and lastly represented San Francisco by the steep hills instead of the cliched Golden Gate Bridge. The film felt timeless to me in the way it was shot and styled. I wanted to use a painting style that also reflected this.

INT: Your new Book, Akikomatic: The Work of Akiko Stehrenberger showcases your work and examines your process. Was it rewarding to show the creative process and your work in such an insightful way? Or was it challenging to outline your techniques?

AS: I am very happy to show the creative process. I imagine from an outsider, it appears easy to make a movie poster being unaware of the challenges the movie advertising industry and it clients present. I’m also happy to show my process so that people know that I’m not just an illustrator, but that I’m also an art director and designer. Movie poster illustrators in the past were told what to paint and how to paint it. It’s important to show that I do everything from concept, to execution, to type design.

Akiko Stehrenberger is an Illustrator and Art Director. For more of her work, please visit her Website.