INSPIRED SILLINESS Poster Design
role: designer
CONTRIBUTION: I led the design and visual composition of the Inspired Silliness show poster—an entertainment collaboration between Jim Henson Studios and Princess Cruises. My role included creative direction on image selection, character compositing, and balancing visual tone with existing brand and logo requirements.
THE BRIEF: Create a promotional poster for Inspired Silliness, a live performance exclusive to Princess Cruises and developed in collaboration with Jim Henson Studios. The poster needed to capture the show’s playful energy and cast of vibrant puppet characters. The final artwork would be featured onboard Princess ships and used in web, social, and print campaigns targeting prospective guests and cruise audiences.
Process
Working from raw green screen rehearsal footage provided by Jim Henson Studios, I selected key character moments using Adobe Premiere Pro. After exporting still frames, I masked and composited the characters in Adobe Photoshop, carefully balancing their sizes, expressions, and interactions to create a theatrical, high-energy layout.
The most technically challenging aspect was isolating the characters from the green screen, especially those with fur or soft edges, and creating consistent lighting and shadowing across the composition. The final image was built to feel dramatic yet joyful—evoking the spirit of the show while standing out in busy onboard environments and marketing channels.
The most technically challenging aspect was isolating the characters from the green screen, especially those with fur or soft edges, and creating consistent lighting and shadowing across the composition. The final image was built to feel dramatic yet joyful—evoking the spirit of the show while standing out in busy onboard environments and marketing channels.
Collaboration
The design process involved iterative creative development with Princess Cruises’ Art Director, Creative Director, and Copywriter. Feedback was also reviewed by stakeholders at Jim Henson Studios during creative routings, helping refine the visual tone and composition while aligning with both brands’ expectations.
The Outcome
The final poster received enthusiastic approval from both Princess Cruises and Jim Henson Studios. It was featured onboard ships hosting Inspired Silliness, where it helped promote the show in high-visibility guest areas. Beyond the cruise experience, the poster was also used across Princess Cruises’ website and social media, and shared widely among fans and industry press.
The artwork appeared on Fandom.com’s Muppet Wiki, in travel and entertainment outlets such as Seatrade Cruise News, TravelAge West, and Attraction Magazine, and across numerous Muppet fan blogs, YouTube features, and communities like Cruise Critic and ToughPigs.com.
While the poster was one part of a larger promotional effort, it played a key role in visually supporting a production that received widespread praise from guests and entertainment leaders alike:
The artwork appeared on Fandom.com’s Muppet Wiki, in travel and entertainment outlets such as Seatrade Cruise News, TravelAge West, and Attraction Magazine, and across numerous Muppet fan blogs, YouTube features, and communities like Cruise Critic and ToughPigs.com.
While the poster was one part of a larger promotional effort, it played a key role in visually supporting a production that received widespread praise from guests and entertainment leaders alike:
"You can’t help but smile, laugh out loud and sing along to this original Henson production and feel connected to the performers and the audience during this show." — Denise Saviss, Vice President of Entertainment Experience, Princess Cruises via Attractions Magazine
Reflection
Getting to work with characters created by the Jim Henson team—some of the most iconic personalities of my childhood—was a professional highlight. I’m proud of how the final poster captures the joyful absurdity of the show and brings out that childlike sense of wonder in audiences of all ages.
programs used
