Imperial 

Barber Grade Products

Art direction, photography and video direction, packaging and campaign design for Imperial Barber Products.

The Blacktop Pomade campaign embraced a minimalistic black-and-white aesthetic, punctuated by the brand’s signature red, to subtly reinforce the brand while maintaining a utilitarian identity. It was the first fully black and white campaign for Imperial, marking a shift toward minimalism and rawness. The work extended across a brand campaign, video, photo shoot, packaging, web, and social channels, supporting the company’s mission to bring barbering traditions into the modern grooming landscape.

Along the way we updated the brand’s packaging across the entire product line and created all new graphics for web and social channels.

Client
Imperial Barber Products

Category
Art Direction, Brand Strategy, Editorial Design, Packaging, Web Design, Print, Photography, Video, Campaign, Magazine, Beauty, Lifestyle

Year
2015

Captions
(1) Blacktop Pomade video spot; (2) Pomade branding & packaging; (3) Lifestyle photography; (4) Web banner; (5) Mobile web page; (6) Classic Pomade digital ad; (7) Blacktop Pomade product photography; (8) Barbering action shot; (9-11) Printed style guide zine; (12) Website design; (13) Lifestyle photography; (14) Barbering action shot; (15) Website design; (16) Blacktop Pomade photography; (14) Lifestyle photography.

Specs
(16 pages, 6x9”) 
Soft cover, offset lithography, 1/4 on uncoated newprint paper stock, saddle stitch binding.

Credits
(Art Direction, Design) Michael J. Salter for Rent Control Creative; [with] (Creative Direction) Matt Lindauer; (Art Direction, Design) Joe Tornatzky, Anthony Wyborny; (Photography) Darren Ankenman; (Video) Scott Wild; (UX/UI) Scott Orchard
IMPERIAL


All Works ©2026 Michael J. Salter