Album Cover Art as A Branding Tool

Academic

This is a little blast from the past. I think I have never uploaded my academic research work to this blog, so lets correct that mistake right now. And to be honest, currently is it downloaded about 200 times per month from another site, which means that there is interest towards it.

In a nutshell, this work covers areas of album cover and its significance on the branding of music using the band HIM as a case study. I believe music is a product that is mainly sold through visual representation. Although the core product is the music, there is increasing need of cover art, logos, photos, live visuals etc. All this constitutes to the branding of the music.

Download Significance of the Album Cover Art as A Branding Tool!

The main finding of this research indicate a need for thoughtful use of visual aspect in music and also showcase certain characteristics of branding that are useful while producing album covers. In a Post-Modern society people buy the message, rather than the music, communicated through different methods of music, promotion, marketing and branding. Well signified album cover, operating like an advertising, reflects a focused message that is easy for consumers to understand.

Earthquake in London

Log + London

Did anyone else feel it? I bet someone else did at least according to this news piece at Guardian. Last night around 1am a 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit the island. Me personally was just about to fell a sleep, laying on my back eyes closed. Suddenly the walls started to crackle and the bed rock gently. That lasted about 20-30 seconds, before settling. Well, must consider us lucky as in London it wasn't too heavy, more like a gently rocking by mother nature.

Cool Skateboarding Video

Thoughts

Today I was pointed to this great video. Skateboard videos are known for their repetitious subject matter. There has been many efforts to bring variety to the tricks with bloopers and other jackass behavior. However, Spike Lee's (I think it is his?) take on Fully Flared video intro gives a new understanding on the high impact of skateboard culture.

Fully Flared Intro

Ministry of Sound Vodka

Log

Over the last three days, we have been shooting virals for Ministry of Sound Vodka. Pedro directing and me being Assistant Director, while the whole TV team worked really well. Look out for the finished edits! Below are some teaser photos...

Showreel

[googlevideo=http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-5084855207392427485&hl=en-GB]

Miami here we come!

Log



To celebrate my 100th post on this blog, I decided to give just a little update. But a good one. Today it's confirmed that MoSTV will fly over to the sunny Florida to cover the Miami Winter Music Conference 2008 with news, features, guides and interviews. Sounds like a good plan to spend a week. We have even rented out a flat for the whole MoS crew se expect some late night after parties. Poor Landlord I say.

The History of Visual Communication

Academic + Philosophy

An amazing study and insight on the history of visual communication gives a good look on the development of this human endeavor. Please read it when you have some time.

Below is Wikipedia's definition for visual communication. The translation of ideas, stories and concepts that are largely textual and/or word based into a visual format, i.e. visual communication.

"Visual communication is the communication of ideas through the visual display of information. Primarily associated with two dimensional images, it includes: art, signs, photography, typography, drawing fundamentals, colour and electronic resources. Recent research in the field has focused on web design and graphically oriented usability. It is part of what a graphic designer does to communicate visually with the audience".

The primary tool by which man has visualised ideas is through the usage of writing and, by extension, type: Writing/type is the visual manifestation of the spoken word. And words are what we communicate with. Thus it is no overstatement when we say that type is the essence of visual communication and by extension of visual communication design. Type, where it is present, is simply the single most important element that you put on a page, since it inherently carries the essence of communication and communication is what our subject of study as graphic/multimedia designers is all about. Thus, the history of visual communication, i.e. the history of the visualisation of the spoken word, will largely follow the development of typographic systems, with a special focus on the Latin typographic system, given that this is the one that we are operating under. Although the primary focus will be on typographic elements and methodologies, the course will, of course, also cover pictorial aspects of visual communication, such as illustration, illumination, photography, shapes, colour etc as and where they pertain to the essence of the subject.

By reading the study, I developed some ideas on the visualisaton of music as parallel form of communication. If word on paper are communication, I think music can be seen as communication as well. However, maybe a bit more abstract and targeting emotions, rather than practical words. In addition, music often uses words in poem form, further emphasising the abstract aspect of communication.

PhD study for "The History of Visualisation of Music" anyone?