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Two graphic posters side by side. The first is yellow with a red sphere and bold red text that reads “EARL JEFF”. The second is light blue with a white oval and red text that reads “BRAW D”.

Ben Arfur’s busy, changeable poster designs

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Date
11 April 2016

After starting his own clothing brand and shop in Cardiff, Blue Honey, Ben Arfur realised he needed an avenue to visually promote the brand, which also organises club nights. Building on a brief encounter with Photoshop back when he was 15, Ben started dabbling in graphic design, taking note of identities for music events as he became more conscious of his brand’s image. Now, as a self-taught designer, a combination of the promotional material he designs for underground club nights has paved the way toward working with record labels.

A selection of his poster designs show his changeable style and experimentation, with warped grids, mixed typography and an equally variable colour palette. Text arrangements flit between orderly and chaotic, cascading or in regimented vertical columns, or wrapped around the outlines of shapes as if strung on a thread.

A graphic poster on a blue background features the word “HIPICAT” in bold white vertical letters. Red 3D pill shapes are arranged horizontally behind the text. Text in the top left reads “SATURDAY 23RD APRIL”, “10 FEET TALL” and “£3 / 10PM”. The bottom right reads “FOLLOWED BY HULLY GULLY DJS”.
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Ben Arfur: Posters

A red and white typographic poster featuring two overlapping white rectangles. The text reads “Blue Honey Presents Peggy” and “Rekids / Phonica Gou”, with the date “5/3”, time “21:00” and price “£5 Adv”. The background is filled with abstract, swirling red shapes.
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Ben Arfur: Posters

A typographic poster with a light blue background and a large red circle in the centre. Bold, distorted blue lettering reads “ALL NIGHT LONG”. Smaller text below lists the acts “with blue honey + veto”, the date “april 2nd / £3” and the word “gwdihw”.
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Ben Arfur: Posters

A typographic poster for a musical event featuring the name “Hari Davies” in large, purple outlined letters. The text is broken across four lines and interspersed with abstract pink shapes. Additional text reads “Live with full band followed by ‘Fridays’ clubnight”. Event details at the bottom list “Friday February 19th” at “10 Feet Tall” from “8pm • £3”.
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Ben Arfur: Posters

A red poster for a music event features the word “HAZY HABITS” in distorted, white typography. The text is layered over several wavy, turquoise lines. Additional text reads “10 Feet Tall and Starving Artists presents”, “Saturday 14th May” and “10 Feet Tall”. Ticket prices are listed as “£5 adv / £8”.
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Ben Arfur: Posters

A graphic poster in orange and black for a music event. Bold, stylised typography reads “ANTWERP LIVE”, alongside a concentric circle pattern and the text “LIVE ELECTRIC BEATS, SOUNDS AND ODDITIES”. Further details list the date as “FRIDAY 12TH FEBRUARY” at the venue “10 FEET TALL”, with “£3 ENTRY / 10PM – LATE”.
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Ben Arfur: Posters

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About the Author

Alexander Hawkins

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