Creating a Type Face 'Skeleton Keys'

After creating my first font in my previous post, I decided to look further into Type design, and create a Typeface based on the human body. Anatomy and the Skeleton has always been something that interested me, so this inspired me to look into ways of making it a font.

I took inspiration from this beautiful illustration I came across on Pintrest, and with graphic tablet in hand and illustrator at the ready, this is what I created. I used tools such as 'Emboss' 'Sketch' and 'Poster Outline' to help create the grainy effect.

I'm really pleased with the way this font turned out, I have learned so much about how to use illustrator and how creating a unique typeface is very difficult! But safe to say I am no longer afraid to tackle the idea of creating my own Typeface now and it has really helped me develop as a designer.

Geometric patterns and Creating my own Typeface 'Space'

Typography is an area of graphic design I have always loved, it really speaks to me from a designers point of view, however is also an area I haven't really covered myself! So to challenge myself, I decided to look into designing my own typeface.

My first step was to think of a theme behind my font. I wanted to create a more illustrative piece of typography rather than a bog standard font, so looked into imagery I like. Of recent, I've been very interested in Geometric shapes, and based on the piece I featured in my previous post, I decided to incorporate this with my type and the high trend galaxy imagery of recent.

I decided to stick to triangular shapes for my font, so these are my initial designs for my typeface, created on Adobe Illustrator.

I think this type looks pretty interesting, and I have got the basics of geometric shaping well. I decided to take four of the letters and make them into singular illustrative pieces to really emphasise how the letters could work as typography pieces. This typeface links with my previous geometric piece, so all together I have shown the kind of complex imagery you can create using simple shapes.

Illustration and Geometric Patterns

I've recently fallen for the geometric imagery that is around in the Graphic design world at the moment, so in one of the few days off work I have, I still found myself designing! 

I came up with the idea of using a mandala image and creating a geometric flower illustration that could be used in my future gig poster designs, or even a stand alone illustration in its own right.

I began by setting out my basic shape design in Photoshop, choosing my colour scheme wisely, keeping it simple and pastel based.

I then went on to add in a dotted line pattern along the edges of some of the shapes and faded circles to reflect the symmetry of the piece and add to the intricate detail. The dotted lines remind me of aboriginal artwork and mark making, which I have also found interesting.

From here, I decided the piece needed something else, as it just looked like an outline at this point, so using photoshop I added in a galaxy print style behind some of the shapes to create a more colourful intricate piece. I used warm colours such as cerise purple and burnt orange to create a illustration I am proud of!

This is my final piece. I enjoyed making this and is something very different to my usual style so will definitely be branching out into further styles soon. I particularly like how the mandala flower stands out really vibrant on the piece. 

Creating my own Graphic Design Manifesto

As part of my personal research, I looked into artist and designer Claes Oldenburg and his Manifesto for art. I loved the idea of this, so decided to re-write it for my own personal Graphic Design inspiration rather than art. I believe it really gives an insight to my personal path of Graphics, but I am sure as time goes on, this will only get longer and longer as I progress more on my journey of discovery.

I Am For… my own Graphic Statement

I am for graphics that is not even noticed as you walk down the street, that you take for granted every day yet could not function without.

I am for graphics that informs, encourages, advertises and bemuses, be it showing you the path to a new job, product, hobby or lifestyle choice; it changes you.

I am for graphics that stands out from the rest when necessary, that captures the attention of everyone who comes into contact with it and sticks in their mind above the others.

I am for graphics that achieves it purpose in a unique and interesting manner, it not only does the job, but does it well.

I am for graphics that takes everyday situations and makes them exciting. Breathtaking, intricate… simple, fun… saddening, whatever it requires.

I am for a designer who is given a task to do, and exceeds every expectation and pushes every boundary.

I am for graphics that challenge attitudes in life, politics, equality and predudice, to influence and expand the minds of those who are shadowed by what we are made to believe and show them a world outside their own minds.

I am for graphics that tell us we are going to be late for the train, miss our bus or that our flight is delayed.

I am for graphics that tell us our loved ones miss us, that inform us where the nearest museum is and when the latest movies are being released.

I am for graphics that make us crave that certain chocolate bar we were supposed to be giving up for our new years resolution.

I am for graphics that excite us when choosing our summer holiday destination, and the signs that greet us as we land at our destination.

I am for graphics that expand like the smoke machine at our favourite concert stage show, smells like a new book waiting to be read.

I am for graphics that changes over time, continuing to develop, grow and explore more concepts and ideas, following and even exceeding the times.

I am for graphics that is hated by some and adored by others, that splits people down the middle but also has the capability to draw people together.

I am for graphics that REALLY could be improved. I am for graphics that makes me think ‘Damn, wish I could make something like that.’

I am for graphics that comes on a can, on a box, on a bottle, on a tin.

I am for graphics that come printed, on websites, on posters, on e-flyers.

I am for graphics that you can hold in your hand, feel, touch, see, love.

I am for graphics that you can wait up hours for, just to see the first glimpse of it.

I am for graphics from a pocket, from a friend, from a stranger, from the depths of your own mind.

I am for graphics on your skin, on your walls and even… sometimes… on your Facebook.

I am for graphics in conversation, narrowing the distance between different languages through imagery and giving the deaf the ability to hear.

I am for graphics that create nostalgia and graphics that introduces us to new things.

I am for graphics that is turned on off, that unfolds, shrinks, grows, moves; that can be played or paused.

I am for graphics that can be messy or pristine. I am for graphics that involves ink, paint, stitch, illustration, pen and photography.

I am a graphic designer, as I am for graphics that lets me express my freedom, my obscure outlook on life, create the world I live in for others to see, and help show and create pieces of graphics that really do make the world go round.

Here is a link to a website showing the original inspiration behind my re-write Manifesto, take a look, if you ' come into contact with Claes Oldenburg before- check it out!

Today is inspiring.

Creating a Brand Identity for 'Psycho Circus' - Part Three : EP Design and Promotion

When it came to what the band wanted from their EP artwork, I was simply given a title 'Pikey Amusement Park' and the words 'Make it crazy'. Definitely one of the more open briefs I've been given to work with but that meant a lot of freedom to design, which is perfect for me. The bands EP recordings would be finished by end of January 2014, so I had a deadline of a month to come up with a design they were all happy with, so I got to work.

 Idea 1

With this initial design, the band decided they liked the idea of a photography based piece, keeping it artsy and simple, so using my own photography and photo manipulation on photoshop, I created this initial idea. After proposing this to the band, they decided they liked this idea, but wanted to go in a different direction and have a more artwork/typography based album cover, so I started on idea 2.

Idea 2

I was really happy with this piece, it was lots of fun to make and i liked the use of negative colouring and type. The band loved the design, but then once again decided to they didn't want any photography at all in the piece and wanted me to come up with an illustrative piece. To meet my clients needs, I decided a piece basted entirely on illustrative type would be my best bet so went for idea 3.

Idea 3

With my third idea, I used illustrator and a secondary source image of a coney island circus poster from stock images to create a piece based mostly on typography. The band chose this design and loved the colour scheme and idea behind it, with the dark candy floss shaped bubble for the type. However... the band then decided that they were unhappy with the name chosen for the EP and decided to go for a self titled release instead so once again I went back to the drawing board. 

With my next idea, I decided to keep it very simple. I wanted the EP cover to be just an illustration, being self titled I decided not to put Psycho Circus on the front but the back, inspired by releases by other independent labels who used simply imagery to portray the band. 

Psycho Circus have always portrayed the image of horror, so I went with a zombie style image which I knew would fit their image. Using a secondary source image and illustrator, I designed a zombie template which on first show to the band they loved instantly, as they believed it was simple yet effective, and showed people their main influence.

Final Idea 

Together with the band, and with inspiration from Misfits, we decided it would be a clever novelty to release the EP Design in 3 different colour schemes, limited edition, so the buyer had a choice of which colour they wanted to purchase, so I chose to stick to the main colour scheme I have used for the bands previous work- Green, Red and Purple.

This was the final cover art design. Cardboard album cases are most eco friendly and cost effective, so I designed the sleeve so that it could be folded and assembled together after printing. The back of the EP sleeve is clear, precise and simple like the style of the artwork and altogether both me and my client were very happy with the end result!

Where to go from here...

Naturally my next step was to promote the EP release! Ready to release in less than a months time, I set to making advertisements for their new social networking sites. My first port of call was to create a new Facebook banner, stating the main points of the advertisement.

1: What it was
2: When it was being released
3: How you can buy it

Above you can see the current look of the Facebook page, really emphasising how I have created an image for the band and a real style which is unique to them, making the band stand out. The Facebook page likes have also risen dramatically since altering the pages appearance and promoting the events and EP release.

This advertisement was promoted across Twitter and Facebook, shared by 30+ friends of the page and was also favourited/re-tweeted numerous times from the Twitter account. As you can see, I also designed the inside of the CD to be unique to each colour, as the band decided, as another novelty, to print onto CDs which looked like vinyl's.

From here, to add more to the Bandcamp profile, I designed them some merchandise to go along with the EP release including Badges, Stickers and a T-Shirt design. Creating pieces of merchandise like this helps the band become an image that fans want to buy into.

T-Shirt Design Template

Current Bandcamp Page

In all, Psycho Circus were more than happy with the final results of their new brand identity and imagery of the social networking sites. The EP design is one of my personal favourite pieces of album artwork I have done, so I am also really pleased with the results! 

As always, there will be more work to do in the future so keep an eye on the page and no doubt you will see more Psycho Circus related material!

© AElizabeth Design

Creating a Brand Identity for 'Psycho Circus' - Part Two : Web Presence

So my next step was to create a web presence for Psycho Circus. Social Media is one of the biggest ways of spreading information and reaching vaster audiences in the modern day, so I targeted the top 5 ways for a band broaden their reach.

1: A personal website

2: Facebook page

3: Twitter page

4: Youtube account

5: Bandcamp profile

Beginning with the website, I created the band their personal domain name (www.psycho-circus.co.uk) and designed a basic home page.  This homepage works as a portal to their new social media accounts (listed above). I also designed a 'Who are the Circus?' Biography page to give new visitors of the website an insight into the band itself. 

To design the action buttons, I used Adobe Photoshop. The style of the blood splatters creates a continuation of style and imagery, as these colours, imagery and typeface will be used throughout the bands social networking.

The icons used in the buttons are the most commonly represented symbols of each social networking site, so I knew users of the website would recognise what each button lead to by the imagery without necessarily having to have the exact name of it on there.

Using photographs taken in the photoshoot (see Part One) I could create a website that showed the fun and interesting side to the imagery of the band which would make them stand out from competition in the music industry.

After the website portal was set up, I went on to create the imagery for their Facebook page. Facebook being the most popular social networking site, it seemed like the best option as their following on their unaltered Facebook page was at around 200 likes at this point. The bands aim was the more than double this in order to make a good impression and impact, so professional design and artwork was needed.

This was one of the first teaser pieces of artwork I created the band so they could leak the fact they were returning with a cover photo. Using illustrations they were given by another artist (permission given to use and alter) I created a simple cartoon based piece. After discussing with the band, we decided this wasn't the direction to take the teaser in, we wanted something more symbolic rather than literal, and after these discussions I decided using old illustrations of their old costumes would make it look like they hadn't developed as a band, so I then went on to try a simpler different approach.

Using basic colour scheme and, again emphasising the consistency of the blood imagery, created this teaser which the band was more than happy with. It received many likes on the Facebook and began to build hype for the band, so was serving its purpose.

Twitter is the fastest growing social networking site of recent years, so my next step was to set up a twitter account for the band. As I had designed the website and Facebook, I new exactly what direction to take the twitter in to keep the continuous style, so the band were very happy with the style I put forward!

Initially, I created a profile banner with the action buttons on, but decided a photograph of the band itself would be best for the promotion as it was more eye catching and the profile photograph itself was the logo. Being that the imagery of the band and the way they dress is a main selling point, it was important to show this on the twitter page as soon as you looked at it.

The band informed me that they had created some teaser videos of their old demos ready to show people an idea of their sound, so I designed them youtube artwork so they had a format to upload the videos onto. I decided to use their character illustrations for this, as their old demos were to bring some nostalgia to old fans so the older artwork with a new twist would work well with this idea. 

I kept the youtube very basic and simple as this meant the page was easier to navigate for anyone who came across one of the demos wanted to look into the band further. I also included the website link on the home page so users could find their social networking sites which had more information on.

For the Bandcamp profile, at this stage of development it was simply a matter of creating the page with a 'coming soon' style teaser image so it was apparent that they would be releasing new material soon, as at this stage the band had no material to release till the new EP was finished recording.

My next step from here wi to begin designing the EP cover! Album artwork is always fun, but the direction to take with this band will be an interesting one!

© AElizabeth Design

Creating a Brand Identity for 'Psycho Circus' - Part One : Photo Shoot

Creating brand identities is an area of graphic design which I love, so when I was approached by horror punk band 'Psycho Circus' to create them a revamped identity, ready for their upcoming EP release, I was ready to dive in! The band already had a logo they were happy with, so asked me to use this as a starting point and develop a web presence, further artwork and a new identity to further the reach of the band in a unique and quirky way.

* Logo design not my own, used with permission *

The band went on hiatus for 3 years and wanted to make their comeback with their well known horror movie influences still apparent, but wanted something new and exciting to bring in new fans as well as old. After discussing with the band what they wanted and doing my own research into their influences such as the band Misfits and B-Movies, I decided to create some initial hype for the band by doing a photo shoot, showing off the new look and ready for the launch of their new website.

The photo shoot was definitely an experience! The band were open to suggestions for location and style, so to reflect the image of the band I decided to do some press shots and some fun ones too, so the day was a real success!

The photographs really helped with promotion, as popular music magazine 'Kerrang!' included one of the photos in a feature on the band.

 My next step is to create the band a social media presence. When helping a band grow and gain more support, today the best way is through social media, so I will go on to develop their new brand identity further through social media design and advertising.

Photography © AElizabeth Design