The Gay Agenda
The Gay Agenda is a fictional LGBTQ+ speakeasy. They are very tongue-in-cheek with its name and attitude, with their motto being “we’re finally talking about it!” It’s a very inclusive atmosphere with fun cocktail names and a staff that dresses on theme.
The Challenge
I took an art deco styled approach for this overall project in an effort to create something fun and inviting that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The biggest challenge is having to build everything from scratch, including the menu copy, and creating something that is fresh and fun in a respectful way.
The reason I gravitated toward art deco for this project is because the style is very beautiful and intricate while still being complex and structured.
Competition
Midnight Cowboy
Here Nor There
Cocktail Alchemy
The Secret Bar
Olican Harry’s
Moodboard
Sketches
Mid-Process Thoughts
At this point, I was struggling. Initially this idea was meant to be a karaoke bar, then just a simple night club, until eventually it landed on a speakeasy type of secret bar.
This direction still keeps in mind the initial demographic and leans into it even further. The goal then became wanting to establish an inviting atmosphere with a lot of structure, thus the art deco aesthetic came to mind.
After trying to fit in a rainbow, I also decided here to scrap this idea to avoid the cliche.
Final Look
Reflection
Overall, I think I was able to achieve a design that I am happy with and would attend myself. It’s a retro feel that still feels timeless at the same time with the way that trends come and go and we always seem to gravitate towards nostalgia.
Going forward I would propose creating specific event posters for themed nights in an effort to take this even further, perhaps even mailing out exclusive invitations or creating a way for there to be a members/VIP section (even if the rewards are purely silly things) just to add to the overall atmosphere.