Creative process for February 2003 design
Back to Sparks

	Stage I The original concept is to show the idea of transition. A doorway is a natural icon for the shift from one space to another. Our rough concept in Stage I gives us a start, but the square field is too static and there's no exploration of the moment of transition itself.

	Stage II We switch to an extreme horizontal format, which gives us more room for motion. The transition point itself is placed to the left of center, which moves the focus conceptually onto the "somewhere else." Greyed type in the "doorway" acknowledges the transition state. But where's the dynamism?

	Final This is more like it! Color shifts communicate the gradual transition from one state to the next. The different levels of grey in "is" and "an" poise the two words in two different planes. "Entry" is larger and more dynamic, and changing it to white propels the eye forward. We enlarged the "doorway" to increase dynamism. The higher contrast "Tom Stoppard" in the lower right corner pulls the eye ahead. Overall, while the design is relatively understated, the color and composition give it a strong feeling of motion into the future—perfect for the meaning of the quote.