Rollerball #3 1975

Robert Peak made this poster for the movie Rollerball, and what strikes me is the boldness of his design. You could say his approach is like a graphic dance, using a limited palette. Look at the colors, orange, blue, black and how they pop! They're flat, no shading, just pure, unadulterated color. Then there's the texture, or lack thereof. It's so smooth, you could eat off it. It feels almost like a screenprint, though I'm not sure. It’s clean and efficient, like a well-oiled machine. But it's also so human, so handmade, in the best way. Now, zero in on the typography – that chunky, almost cartoonish typeface. It's playful but strong. Like the poster as a whole, it's so direct, it just hits you square in the face. Peak reminds me a bit of early Warhol, or even Stuart Davis, in his love of flat color, bold shapes, and the energy of modern life. It's art that doesn't take itself too seriously, but it has a lot to say.