Before the Midnight Hour: A Noir-Inspired Furniture Illustration Series

Martin Reznik's Award-Winning Design Breaks Conventional Boundaries

Reznik's project, "Before the Midnight Hour," features Krusin's most prominent furniture designs for Knoll and Desalto. The series stands out for its narrative approach, exaggerated perspective, and film noir aesthetic. The absence of human figures and the presence of scattered objects add an element of mystery, making the furniture the protagonist of the story.

The illustrations were initially drawn in pen and ink on paper. Once approved, they were digitally redrawn using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, with textures, light, and other elements added using a Wacom Cintiq tablet. The images were rendered using black only, recreating the film noir aesthetic.

While primarily used in a digital format online, the illustrations were also designed with art print production in mind. Each square illustration was drawn on a 500 x 500mm digital canvas. The images were later combined into a large poster (500 x 700mm) and reproduced as a limited edition screen print.

The series was initially published on Instagram, with illustrations posted at regular intervals. The main interaction with the story comes with the fourth and final illustration, where the viewer is encouraged to reveal the protagonist by using the scroll option on the Instagram post. This unusual approach to furniture illustration ensures a greater impact on viewers, arousing their curiosity about the products and the brand.

Despite the challenges faced, such as the client's initial resistance to including human figures in the scenes, Reznik found an elegant solution that added an element of surprise and closure to the story. The series was posted on Instagram and LinkedIn starting February 2021 and continues to be active. The hero banners on the client's website ran for about eight months, nearly till the end of 2021.

This innovative project has not gone unnoticed in the design world. "Before the Midnight Hour" was awarded the Golden A' Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Award in 2022. This prestigious accolade is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. They are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.