Welcome back to the PRO spotlight series, where we showcase the backbone of PosterSpy: its PRO members. Today we interview Kailynn Heide, who commonly goes by Wyn (her nickname). Wyn is a freelance designer located in the small town of Pillager, central Minnesota. She creates minimalist, retro-infused tributes for her favorite films and TV series, and we at PosterSpy love her subdued approach to color palettes and her inspired choice of fonts.
How did you get into the art of posters?
It all happened very quickly. Shortly after I graduated high school in 2016, I discovered The Walking Dead. I immediately became obsessed, and had this compelling desire to create fan art to showcase my love for the series. I started small, using different photo editing apps on my phone. Then, in 2017, I changed my degree to graphic design, and that’s when I was introduced to the world of Illustrator and Photoshop. I particularly enjoyed the various poster design projects my professor would assign, and I’ve been hooked on that niche ever since.
What are two or three of the favorite posters you’ve done?
I’d say my top three at this moment in time are my Midnight Mass, Drive and JAWS tribute pieces. I was very pleased with my artistic choices for each, from composition to color contrast to font selection.
How long have you been with PosterSpy? What has your experience with the site been like?
I’ve been with PosterSpy since the summer of 2022, so it’s been a little over a year now! It’s been incredible. The work Jack has put in has been inspiring. The PosterSpy community (and alternative poster community in general) is insanely supportive of one another, and it’s gratifying to have a platform for us designers to not only share our own designs, but also find inspiration through the designs of others.
Do you have any fun stories about making art?
I must admit it’s fairly thrilling when people in the entertainment industry take notice of my work. My favorite interactions so far have been with Mike Flanagan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Both now own prints of my designs! I really enjoy creating in and of itself, but it’s always a bonus when the people involved in the actual project reach out and show their appreciation.
You gravitate towards a very distinct color palette. How did you settle on it? And how do you normally pick the colors for your artwork?
It definitely varies. Some designs I know exactly which colors I want to use, and others I don’t even know where to start. Sometimes I’ll cycle through different color combinations for hours before I discover one that I like. I try to stick with 3 or 4 colors maximum, simply due to my designs being minimalist.
Could you walk us through your typical artistic process?
About 90% of my minimalist tributes are for films and series that I personally am a fan of. I might do a little research beforehand just to rekindle my memory, but most times I already have a set idea in mind of how I want to approach a design. Many times there are a lot of different elements I want to include, so usually the most difficult part of creating a design is trying to figure out a way to lay it all out without it looking too busy.
Finally, what is your ideal poster gig?
I would love to do official key art for a major studio someday. At this moment I think I have a bit of a ways to go before I reach that point. I’m still learning new things every day, and with each poster design I’m finding new ways to improve. However, being that I am a massive fan of The Walking Dead, I’m still in awe over being commissioned to do a poster design for the camera department as a wrap gift just mere months before the series came to an end. That was truly a dream come true, and one I could have never imagined I’d be asked to do so early in my artistic journey.
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