Breathing Life into Art: Na An's Award-Winning Posters

COVID-19 Inspired Posters: A Symbiotic Relationship Between Breathing and Masks

Na An's inspiration for the 'Breath' series came from the global epidemic of COVID-19. The designer saw masks as the most effective and convenient way to prevent the spread of the virus, and this became the central theme of the posters. The series is a call for global unity, emphasizing that we breathe together and share the same fate. The designer is confident that with concerted efforts, we can fight against COVID-19, publicize epidemic prevention knowledge, and advocate for harmonious symbiosis between individuals.

The posters are unique in their use of positive and negative shapes in graphic design, combining the side profile of a person with the edge of a mask. The main figure is combined with graphic elements such as people, sky, city, heart, and heartbeat, prompting viewers to contemplate the relationship between prevention, confidence, community, and unity. The posters were designed and produced using hand-drawn graphics and Adobe Photoshop software.

The 'Breath' series is versatile and can be expanded in different spaces. On two-dimensional platforms, they can be extended to a book or a logo by adding content, such as pictures and information about people united in their fight against viruses. In three dimensions, they can be transformed into interactive three-dimensional posters or installation art. In the realm of time, they can be designed as motion graphics.

The project was completed in February 2020 in China and has been exhibited in three exhibitions of public service advertising contests. The research objective behind the design was to call on people to protect themselves scientifically, have conviction in winning the battle against COVID-19, and make continuous efforts in fighting the epidemic.

One of the challenges faced by the designer was how to use graphics, a borderless language, to enhance people's confidence and courage, and use scientific methods against the virus. The combination of shapes in the posters makes people think about the community for mankind and the importance of trust and unity from the perspective of history and society.

The 'Breath' series was awarded Bronze in A' Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Award in 2020. The award is bestowed upon outstanding and creatively ingenious designs that authenticate experience and resourcefulness. Esteemed for incorporating best practices in art, science, design, and technology, they exhibit strong technical and creative skills and contribute to quality of life improvements, making the world a better place.