Still waiting for my letter, Hogwarts...

“You’re a wizard, Harry.”

And so began my life-long love for Harry Potter. No, really. I love Harry Potter. Of all the fandoms in the world, that one is the only one I call my home. So what did I do when I learned that there is a new show going up in London showcasing all the graphic art from the HP movies? Obviously I shouted “SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY” and threw my credit cards at the screen. Isn't that what you just did?

Unfortunately for me, there was no money to be found on those cards and my dream of walking through the wizarding world one art show at a time will not be realized. At least not until I can figure out how to disaperate.

Moving beyond my own disappointment at likely never seeing this collection in person, I marvel at the level of detail in the brand. Designing everything from book covers (and books) to fictional newspapers, from Ministry of Magic letters to wizard candy—this is one comprehensive brand identity.

The movies were always a window into another realm—making real the world I had only seen in my mind. While reading, I never actually imagined what the newspapers, wanted signs, or packaging looked like in the fictional universe. I was far too busy mapping moving staircases and trying to understand how one could tickle a pear painting to be distracted by the cover of textbooks and throw-away papers. (Even if they did move…) #priorities

All that said, once the movies hit theaters, it was all that extra care put into the collateral that made this magical world truly come to life. Of course they would have old-style type and print methods—this was a world without muggle technology! Of course they would still have packaging design and advertisements—consumer-driven economies didn’t stop at the brick wall in the Leaky Cauldron! Of course there was a Cold-War-esque quality to everything—fear of impending doom and mass hysteria was central to the plot!

I really shouldn't be as surprised as I am. In many ways, print would have been exponentially more important in a world where owls delivered post, television couldn’t function, and radio was the only other way to spread news and advertise. With that knowledge, I love that this whole additional, adult layer, was added to the films—bringing to life so many seemingly unimportant pieces and setting a broader tone to the films.

Now I've gotta go find a time turner so I can go back and work on this magical (literally magical) account. They couldn’t have all been destroyed in the Department of Mysteries…

BONUS: Check out MinaLima's shop and video about their 10 years of work in the Harry Potter universe!