Sophomore Arden Rusu Designs Poster for International Poetry Forum
Arden Rusu, a sophomore in Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design (BDes ’27), was recently commissioned to design the poster for the International Poetry Forum’s upcoming event “Poetry of the Underworld”: Srikanth Reddy.“ The event, featuring a reading and book signing with acclaimed poet, University of Chicago professor, and poetry editor for The Paris Review, Srikanth “Chicu” Reddy, will take place on April 15th, 2025 at 6:30pm at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall.
Rusu was introduced to the IPF through Special Faculty member Victoria Crowley, after Rusu designed a poster for Poets Aloud during an assignment for her Communications Mini last semester.
“I picked Poets Aloud, a series of poetry readings hosted by Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures, because it seemed like a unique challenge,” explained Rusu. “How do I visually represent this event without cliché quill-and-inkpot imagery? My final design featured this silhouetted Saul Bass-ish figure, which I hoped would capture the jazzy, mysterious energy of a poetry reading. Now, I'm creating even more mysterious posters for IPF, and emulating midcentury design aesthetics to my heart's content."
For the “Poetry of the Underworld” event, IPF Director Jake Grefenstette provided Rusu with posters, brochures, and artworks from the forum's archives, some dating back as far as the 1960’s.
“I wanted to honor IPF's heritage and history, so I was heavily inspired by the traditional illustration, hand-drawn type, and strange vintage imagery in the materials Jake gave me,” said Rusu. “After some sketching, I landed on a blue figure clad in a trench coat, which is fitted with tight hand-drawn lettering. He's wearing a wide-brim hat that almost covers his shifty eyes. I wanted him to look a little cloak-and-dagger, like a 50s detective you'd see in a rainy Manhattan alleyway.
“To me, ‘Poetry of the Underworld’ conjures up ideas of smokey bars, jazz sessions, and beatniks spouting subversive gab in late-night cafes. Hopefully I've captured that enigmatic vibe.”
Rusu highlighted the unique challenge of having to create her own letterforms for the poster.
“I don't have too much experience with drawing type, save for some experimental personal projects I've done in the past,” said Rusu. “Finding little niches for words and tucking letters into each other felt like solving a jigsaw puzzle.”
“The second biggest challenge was finding the time between class assignments to finish the thing,” joked Rusu.
Rusu has enjoyed being able to see her work on the walls both in and around campus.
“I've been putting my roller skates on after my classes are done for the day and hitting each campus building, then businesses up and down Forbes Ave,” said Rusu. “It's really nice to see that they're still posted after a few days. When I've put up flyers in the past, they are usually taken down very quickly.
“I'd like to believe they're still up because people like the design, but in reality they'll probably have the same lifespan as most other posters. So it goes! Nothing is permanent!”
Rusu, now near the end of her sophomore year, highlights the opportunities to explore, collaborate, and step out of her comfort zone as highlights of her ongoing Design education.
“Working with IPF has been an opportunity to broaden my design horizons and connect with creative folk I never would've met otherwise,” said Rusu. “The lovely writers and poets of IPF work in a medium totally different to my own and soaking it all up has influenced me in ways I could never have imagined. Opportunities like this abound in the School of Design. You are the opposite of tied down / boxed in. You can go out, get inspired, and come back to inject it all into your studio work... all the better for developing your practice! The faculty show they truly care in so many ways, and even outside of class they will help you as much as they can.
“The School of Design uplifts you at every turn.”