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Molly Burch Christmas Prints
A Promotional Poster for a show and a Christmas card for singer Molly Burch
Introduction
Project Brief
As part of my Design Residency at the University of Texas at Austin, I was commissioned by Austin-based singer Molly Burch, through the university, to create custom prints for her Christmas performance at the Commodore Perry Estate’s annual mansion lighting event. The project involved designing and screen printing a promotional poster, as well as using the Rob Roy Kelly print collection to letterpress a series of Christmas cards. The work combined modern design with traditional printing techniques to capture the festive spirit of the event while reflecting Molly’s artistic identity.
Goals
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Clear and Effective Information Design​
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On-brand Aesthetic Appeal
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Use University Resources
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Leverage design hierarchy and visual clarity to communicate the key details of the event
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Designed a poster that aligns with
Molly Burch’s established aesthetic while incorporating festive Christmas elements
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Utilize UT’s screen printing lab and the Rob Roy Kelly wood type collection to design and produce the prints
Research
To develop the poster’s visual direction, I began by gathering inspiration from concert and Christmas poster designs, curating examples that demonstrated strong composition and holiday themes. Additionally, I reviewed Molly Burch’s existing media—her merchandise, album covers, photoshoots, and past promotional posters—to ensure my design would align with her established aesthetic.
One approach that stood out during this process was the use of photographic assets in printmaking, particularly through halftone techniques. Inspired by this, I decided to incorporate photos from Molly’s Christmas photoshoot into the poster design, using halftone printing to achieve a striking, textured effect that felt both festive and on-brand.
Past Molly Burch graphic design
Example Print Posters
Concept Development
Typography – Rob Roy Kelly Wood Type Collection
The Rob Roy Kelly Wood Type Collection at the University of Texas at Austin is a renowned archive of over 150 wood typefaces, representing a significant piece of typographic history. The collection serves as a resource for students and designers to explore and incorporate traditional type into modern projects.
For this poster, I wanted to integrate the unique character of the wood type into the design. I spent time sifting through dozens of boxes from the collection, searching for a typeface that aligned with the festive yet vintage tone of the project. Once I selected a set of type, I digitized it using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, enabling me to incorporate the authentic wood type aesthetics into the final poster while maintaining the flexibility of digital design.
Design Hiearchy
As the poster’s primary goal was to promote the event, it was essential to prioritize the most critical information. Using design hierarchy, I ensured that the "Who, What, Where" details were the most prominent and visually striking elements of the poster. Secondary text, such as the time, date, location, and presenting sponsor, was styled to complement the main details while maintaining readability and balance.
To refine the design, I created five different iterations, experimenting with type placement, size, and emphasis. I then shared these drafts with my mentor, Henry, the Design Fabrication Lab Manager, for feedback. His guidance helped me finalize a layout that was both engaging and effective in communicating the event details.
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Hero Graphic Element
With the typography and base layout finalized, I shifted focus to the main graphic element of the poster. I explored two strong concepts:
-A 2x2 grid of halftoned photos from Molly’s Christmas photoshoot, inspired by vintage poster designs
like The Beatles' iconic layouts.
-A "Christmas scene" featuring a framed photo alongside a wrapped gift, evoking a cozy holiday
atmosphere.
Since I was drawn to both ideas, I decided to develop each concept into high-fidelity versions. This allowed me to fully explore their potential and determine which design best complemented the typography and overall theme of the poster.
We chose the "Christmas scene" design for its unique, festive appeal. The framed photo and gift box created a nostalgic holiday vibe, with a standout detail being the tag on the gift box reading "Presented by KUTX," tying the design to the event sponsor.
Fabrication
With the design finalized, the next step was to bring it to life through screen printing. Henry sourced high-quality paper for the project, and I cut it to size. To achieve the layered design, I created three separate screens—one for each color: white, red, and dark green.
Once all tools and screens were prepared, I began the printing process, carefully layering each color to ensure alignment and vibrant results. Each step required precision and patience to achieve the final product.
Christmas Cards
For one final commission by Molly, we designed and fabricated Christmas cards using UT’s historic letterpress machines and the Rob Roy Kelly wood type collection. The process was straightforward, as the wood type dictated much of the design. After selecting and arranging the type, we focused on creating a clean layout with plenty of negative space, reflecting the simplicity and elegance of a holiday card.
To add a unique touch, we mixed the ink to create a subtle light-to-dark red gradient, giving the cards depth and a festive feel. Once the type was set, we cut the paper to size and printed the cards, resulting in a beautifully crafted set of personalized Christmas cards for Molly to share with her fans.
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