John Gravdahl, Graphis Poster Awards 2026 gold winner, transforms typography and materials into compelling visual experiences, where every letter and form tells a story. From the fluid energy of FLOW Motion to the thoughtful creation of Past Masters, Gravdahl’s posters blend experimentation, precision, and narrative, revealing a designer deeply attuned to both the history and future of visual communication. His work invites viewers to engage, explore, and feel the rhythm of each composition.

Written by John Gravdahl

Past Masters of the Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition

“Past Masters” was conceived as a memoriam exhibition to honor the creative influence of the deceased designers who had contributed their remarkable work to the CIIPE over the years. It was a tremendous creative challenge to do a worthy job. I began with sketches and research photos to imagine an abstract fantasy exhibition with walls made of ribbons of white scrap paper. I planned to place historic poster examples from each designer onto the various surfaces.

It seemed like a good idea, but the images turned out to be too small and confusing for a large group. The file size alone became a problem, so I changed directions toward a more engaging solution. The casual presence of the X-acto knife in my previous research photos caught my eye. I remade the concept to simply show a typographic array of the title, treating each character like an independent poster in an overlapping street-like display. Each designer’s name is placed uniquely within. Tools of the trade (from my toolbox) highlighted various professional skill sets of earlier days. The result was a lively memoriam for a beautiful exhibition that first appeared in Chengdu, China, 2024.

FLOW Motion

“FLOW Motion” was my entry into the 12th Seoul International Poster Triennale hosted by the Korea Ensemble of Contemporary Design (KECD) to interpret and express the idea of “FLOW.” I imagined a fluid typographic interplay of positive and negative spaces in an over-kerned stacked-spacing of Futura Extra Bold. I converted type to paths and experimented freely, saving files often as I went along with the experiment. I maintained minimal legibility while suggesting the intimate relationships between contrasting elements.

Typographic color details diluted the impact, and it needed more tangible content. The hard surfaces from my own river stone collection complemented the fluid space, color, and volume—all to suggest the results of fluid energy reshaping hard reality over time. I chose stones with various sizes, shapes, colors, and textures from numerous photos on my drawing table. I also included a sand dollar from my grandmother, with its symbolism. A spherical image from Celadon pottery served as a salute to the Korean origin of the project. I ultimately brought in my spontaneous shot of an onyx warming stone with a googly eye to keep the whole project from becoming too mysterious.

In each of these creative endeavors, no hard visual goals were in mind at first—just an effort to experiment and keep a sharp eye for evolving discoveries. The results were positive.

About John Gravdahl

John Gravdahl is a Director of the Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition (CIIPE).
He earned his BFA in Graphic Design at Colorado State University and MFA in Illustration at Syracuse University. After working with design firms in the Rocky Mountain market, he established Gravdahl Design gaining a wide-ranging clientele. He is a Professor of Graphic Design at CSU and a Core Faculty member at the Richardson Design Center. With an extensive international exhibition record, he has served as an exhibitor, juror, speaker, and workshop leader at major design exhibitions and conferences on four continents.

https://gravdahldesign.com

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