SPECIAL ISSUE 14 MARTIN BOARD

PINBALL POSTER

As Pinball machines format is usualy rectangular and contains a rich combination of colors, typefaces, shapes and illustrations, we could see each pinball machine as a canvas, or a thematic graphic poster. It could be compared to the print format of a poster such as ISO format sA2, A1, A0 or 40 x 60.

The two links bellow contains posters made by the french studio 'Formes Vives' for the 2019 28th International posters competition of Chaumont festival.

http://www.centrenationaldugraphisme.fr/en/le-signe/collection/extra-ball
http://www.centrenationaldugraphisme.fr/en/le-signe/collection/golden-ball

see project description bellow (source):

Prix Espoir, 28th International posters competition, 2019.

These two works arose from an invitation by Ultra publishing house. The carte blanche was for the design of two posters to be displayed temporarily in backlit posterboards in the little town of Le Relecq-Kerhuon. The designers of Formes Vives plunged into a personal creation inspired by pop culture and the colourful exuberance of pinball flippers. All living in different cities, the three designers took pleasure in composing the images like a collage. This series was awarded the Prix Espoir of the International Poster Competition of the 2019 Biennale du design graphique in Chaumont.

PLAYER VS GRAVITY = FATALITY

Playing pinball seems to relate to an indivudual sport performance. The result of this performance is a score that can be compared to other players scores through a scoreboard visible on the alphanumeric display of the pinball machine . Even if it is possible for several people to be specators, there is usualy only one player. The inclinaison of the machine combined to the physical world gravity allow the player to play by himslef and try to push up the ball up again and again for the longest time as possible.
There is however something invetiable, or fatalistic about pinball, because as long as gravity exists, the ball will always go down. Then human failure or a lack of luck with unevitably cause the ball to go down and finally game over.

Note: read essay on the pinball machine (not found yet/ask Lidia)