Louis Sullivan: the Struggle for American Architecture
In 2007, I was living in Chicago, completing my Masters degree in American history from Loyola University, when I became captivated by the work of Louis Sullivan. Having loved architecture all my life, I was amazed not just at Sullivan's originality, but the graphic skill that made his buildings pulse with life through his use of impossibly complex ornamentation. Sullivan is a legend, but I was amazed when I learned that no one had ever attempted to capture his life and career in a documentary. He provided the inspiration for me to become a filmmaker, and I spent the next four years producing this film which I'm happy to say has resonated with many people around the world who love architecture, design and a good story.
Key Art / DVD Cover
Key art for the feature documentary on the life and career of Louis Sullivan (1856-1924). Creator of the phrase "form follows function," Sullivan championed the idea that all good architects found their inspirations in nature. In this design, a massive tree morphs into one America's earliest skyscrapers, Sullivan's Guaranty Building from 1896. Sullivan himself is presented as a towering and enduring influence on American architecture.
DVD Back Cover
The back cover of the DVD case continues to present the Guaranty Building from the cover, along with stills from the film that show its dramatic photography and strong sense of design that carries through to archival photographs. The use of ultra-condensed credits connects its storytelling to feature-length films.
The key art served as a template for postcards used to promote the many special screenings held at cultural institutions and film festivals.
24 x 36 Poster
Social Media Ad
The film's promotion in a Facebook ad required the use of a postage-stamp sized graphic, shown here at 300% on the left and actual size on the right.
End Credit Roll
I wanted the film's end credits to do justice to Sullivan's remarkable architecture, ornamentation and interior design. Key credits are presented in static detail shots, and the rolling credits are placed in front of a ceiling ventilation grill and stencil from main trading room of the Chicago Stock Exchange.
Study Guide Timeline
The film was licensed to colleges and universities around the world for classroom use and library circulation. This timeline, from a study guide meant to accompany the film, shows Sullivan's career in the context of the dramatic changes in architecture and engineering in the late nineteenth century.
