In the summer of 2024, I was given an opportunity to create an animated LinkNYC advertisement and bus shelter poster to mark the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal, which occurred in October 1825.
Unfamiliar with this history, I dove into the past and discovered the significance of the Canal and the people who made it happen. Researching the history of the Erie Canal got me thinking about the ways I could represent the connection between the Canal and New York City.
My drafting process started with a series of sketches, ranging from the natural environment, human figures, boats, and buildings. My thumbnailing process consists of developing the composition, typography, iterations of the subject, and graphics, allowing me to control the narrative. Trying to find a style and way to communicate my concept, I was faced with fragile representations. I needed a middle ground of fun designs and easily understood visuals. This became a problem for both the poster and animation during my first year. Despite many iterations and hours of effort, I was reluctant to proceed with the work from that summer.
Flash forward a year to the Summer of 2025, which gave me an opportunity to review the prior results and craft an advertisement that I could be proud of. As a recent graduate from Pratt Institute, I felt I had developed the necessary skills to take on this challenge. Another round of iterations and refocusing on what most represented the Erie Canal and NYC got me closer.
Two centuries is a very long time to present in a 30-second ad, but a montage loop allowed me to guide the viewer through a changing city. Using important landmarks from upstate and New York City, and visual cues to depict traveling through time, best conveyed the concept. The hierarchy of structure and height is a testament of time, allowing the viewer to rise and fall.
The poster was inspired by the contrast of the 19th century canal to the bustling 21st century New York City, although they reflect each other in a lot of ways. Both advanced by incredible minds and hard workers, with technology improving communication, travel and human connection.
Working on this project for the past year was an incredible experience, and I hope that I produced an animated ad that will convey to New Yorkers the passage of time and the connection between Lake Erie and New York City. The Erie Canal is monumental, and I am glad I was able to help celebrate the anniversary of this landmark that helped make New York City a great city.
-Devaun Longley
Aerial view of Lower Manhattan, ca. 1950s. New York City Fire Department photographs, NYC Municipal Archives.