Omega Cinema Props is one of the oldest prop houses in Los Angeles, CA.

I was hired by their Production Director for a one-off research and development project, involving the creation of various background ephemera for use in film.

The objective of this project was to create everyday printed material you would likely find in a family household including show flyers, kids sports team schedules, takeout menus and whatever else I could come up with. I was given total freedom with what I wanted to create, as long as I delivered a specified amount of pieces by an agreed deadline.

While I was creatively satisfied with the outcome of these designs, the challenges came with the mostly technical aspects of the design, specifically the copywriting aspect, as well as being careful not to use any names that could be contested or violated. The other challenge was to design in such a way to replicate the look and feel of everyday, commonplace design. While I took more of an art-based approach to things like flyers, I opted for more of a restrained palette and layout for the remaining items.

While the designs themselves might not be considered extraordinary, I think that I successfully fulfilled the client’s expectations of producing pieces that perfectly meld into the background. More importantly, I learned the basics of a work-for-hire situation with an established company- negotiating my rate, working with a contractual deadline, and receiving my first paid assignment.