Rusalka

Digital illustration: Adobe Photoshop (custom watercolor brushes) Typography & Layout: Adobe InDesign / Illustrator Print prep & export: CMYK optimization

Introduction

In this graphic design project for Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, the objective was to design a captivating printed poster for the opera Rusalka. The goal: to communicate the poetic and haunting tone of the story while attracting a younger audience with a contemporary and emotional visual style.
Design

This was the project:

This project started with in-depth research into the target audience; their visual preferences, emotional triggers, and expectations. Based on these insights, I explored several illustration techniques and conceptual directions to find the best balance between magic and melancholy, in line with the opera’s story.

Challenge

To translate the emotional layers of Rusalka into a modern, visually arresting poster that could resonate with younger viewers, without spoiling the dramatic depth of the storyline. The challenge was to capture both the fairy-tale-like mystery and the darker, bittersweet undertone of the opera.

My approach

Starting from audience analysis, I focused on tone of voice and visual storytelling. Rather than illustrating scenes directly, I built up the mood through texture, color, and form. The digital watercolor process helped me to experiment freely with transparency, fluidity, and shape, mimicking the movement and emotional flow of water.

Challenge

To translate the emotional layers of Rusalka into a modern, visually arresting poster that could resonate with younger viewers, without spoiling the dramatic depth of the storyline. The challenge was to capture both the fairy-tale-like mystery and the darker, bittersweet undertone of the opera.

My approach

Starting from audience analysis, I focused on tone of voice and visual storytelling. Rather than illustrating scenes directly, I built up the mood through texture, color, and form. The digital watercolor process helped me to experiment freely with transparency, fluidity, and shape, mimicking the movement and emotional flow of water.

RESULT

The final poster(s) feature the silhouette of Rusalka, the water nymph, rendered in digital watercolor using various Photoshop brushes. This approach gives the image an organic, dreamlike softness, while the dominant blue hues tie into the theme of water, sorrow, and longing. The composition places the silhouette at the center, with a framed border containing the text and logo of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen. This creates a strong visual contrast and keeps the focus on the emotional figure, guiding the viewer’s attention with precision. To preserve the impact of the opera’s emotional climax, the imagery hints at enchantment and mystery without giving away the not-so-happy ending. The posters aim to spark curiosity and a sense of quiet drama, inviting viewers to explore what lies beneath the surface of the story.

Project showcase

Behind the scenes shots.

This is the poster that I turned in as the result.
This poster is the other version of the first poster. In this poster, I used a hind of color with a circle behind the silhouette. The dark edges are also gone, which gives the poster a lighter look than the first one.
This poster is the other version of the first poster. In this poster, I used a hind of color with a circle behind the silhouette. The dark edges are also gone, which gives the poster a lighter look than the first one.

RESULT

The final poster(s) feature the silhouette of Rusalka, the water nymph, rendered in digital watercolor using various Photoshop brushes. This approach gives the image an organic, dreamlike softness, while the dominant blue hues tie into the theme of water, sorrow, and longing. The composition places the silhouette at the center, with a framed border containing the text and logo of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen. This creates a strong visual contrast and keeps the focus on the emotional figure, guiding the viewer’s attention with precision. To preserve the impact of the opera’s emotional climax, the imagery hints at enchantment and mystery without giving away the not-so-happy ending. The posters aim to spark curiosity and a sense of quiet drama, inviting viewers to explore what lies beneath the surface of the story.
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sarah_schmit@outlook.com

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