Neon Museum

The objective of this project was to create a promotional campaign for a museum. The Neon Museum is an exhibition where retired Las Vegas neon signs are put on display for visitors to appreciate on tours. These iconic signs are memorable to so many people, and have shined over Las Vegas through past decades. The task was to create one main poster, as well as three extensions showing the campaign being used in real world applications. The campaign continues the theme of signage as a way to convey both a message and an emotion. “This is a Sign” creates intrigue and curiosity while the shape and glow of the signs create a vintage and alluring atmosphere. 

One of the main considerations when choosing which signs to replicate was the context in which they would be utilized. For example, choosing the retired “Yucca” sign for a billboard display was strategic to ensure the best composition for a horizontally driven sign. This is also why the posters all use a system of the “Interstate” typeface that mimics real road signage. The primary poster uses a retired “Red Barn” sign for a more vertical composition in order to fit the fifteen by twenty inch size requirement for the primary campaign direction. Finally, the “Hard Rock” guitar was used for a square sized social media post because of the circles on the guitar that create a concentric pull. 

The primary audience for the Neon Museum are both people who enjoy experiencing pieces of Las Vegas’ history, and those who are looking to immerse themselves in something unique from an art appreciation perspective. Therefore, the campaign directions needed to be reminiscent of their historical signage while maintaining an artistic edge. By keeping the silhouettes of the signs the same as the retired signs in the museum, their historical context remains intact. The monochromatic glowing approach to the signs appeals to people looking for a creative exhibition to experience. Also, the “This is a Sign” message followed by the “Follow the Glow” or “Visit the Neon Museum” call to actions help to address the large population of tourists that frequent the Las Vegas area. These people are likely driving around looking to experience all that Las Vegas has to offer, and are pulled in by an intriguing message and then directed on where to go. 

Overall, the Neon Museum Campaign is successful in engaging a wider audience through strategic implementation of relevant contextual components and compelling design aspects.