The Challenge

A brief of creating a poster displaying data relating to the looping and non-linear timeline of the 1993 film Groundhog Day was assigned. The film was broken down into several sets of data, including time, symbols and events, characters and song lyrics. 

Different forms of dynamic visual diagrams were reviewed and collected for inspiration, in order to create a complex, yet synthesized, visual diagram of the film.

Project Summary

The visual diagram includes soundtrack and symbolism as the final layer of content. These were considered integral and engaging pieces of data for the poster and understanding of Groundhog Day.

The final visual diagram incorporates a circular design to cleanly break down the Three Act Structure and the order of events. The split or opening in the circle near the bottom left refers to the main character, Phil’s escape from his looped timeline. 

The central area of the diagram incorporates a web-like structure of lines that compare every time a symbol or common event is shown on-screen. This complex design further indicates the structure of Phil’s journey through the three acts. 

3 solid circles are used to represent the characters Phil, Rita, and Larry, as well as their prevalence throughout the film. Sharing the same colour as the symbol for 6:00 AM, the soundtrack is represented by incorporating the lyrics to “I Got You, Babe” radiating around the diagram. This provides context to the relationship between the symbol and the song, as well as the development of Phil’s character as he continues to get to know Rita throughout the course of the film.

Mood Board

Versions 1 and 2 were a starting point in terms of laying out and categorizing the data. Version 1 visualized using multiple circular bars for future data, while version 2 incorporated web-like lines within the circle to compare every single time a symbol was shown on-screen.

Solution

The final version of the poster combined the layouts of Versions 1 and 2. A darker background was applied to make the central web of data stand out more. The symbol of time, 6am specifically, was combined with the lyrics to the song I Got You, Babe. 

Project Information