Diamonds are Forever 1971

This movie poster for "Diamonds Are Forever" relies on offset lithography, a commercial printing process capable of mass production. Look closely at the flat, uniform areas of color, the crispness of the typography, and the almost hyper-realism of the figures. These are the results of a process optimized for efficiency and scale. McGinnis's design blends hand-rendered illustration with graphic design elements. Sean Connery as Bond stands at the center, surrounded by symbols of wealth, danger, and glamour. These associations are amplified by the printing process itself. The poster advertises not just a film, but a lifestyle, one dependent on global systems of production and distribution. The medium is the message, as Marshall McLuhan famously said. In this case, the poster embodies the same ethos as the film it promotes, a world of mass-produced luxury, high-stakes intrigue, and disposable thrills. This artwork reminds us that even the most seemingly superficial objects are embedded in complex economies of labor and desire.