Logo Plans

From the research I performed earlier in my blog I decided that a simple logo can transform a bands image and make them internationally well known like the Rolling Stones (below) for instance whose mouth insignia appears on all sorts of merchandise and is recognisable not just in England and America. I am not necessarily saying that to become popular a band must have a logo, on the contrary to have a logo is merely an easy way to design merchandise and thus because this one image encapsulates the band it becomes a brand which is fashionable to wear and to advertise the audiences support of the band. For these reasons I decided to attempt to create a simple yet effective logo for The New York Fund. It had to conform to the band image I had already created with the digipak front cover and the magazine advert, this is why the colours I chose matched those that were used on these two productions; this way a brand style is more prevalent and these colours can be carried on to other albums, singles and merchandise in different styles/motifs to expand on the band style.



The first logo I created (shown below) was playing with the letter N for New York Fund and it used the colours I had set out to use and remained simple which fits in with the band style I had created, however this logo is a mite dull, although I took inspiration from The White Stripes amazing video (shown below).

It does not have the same impact as the moving image fading into the distance! On top of this I would like to use more of the initials to make the logo clear this is why my second attempt was a lot more successful.

This is the logo I have chosen because it uses the entire initials and the colours that signify the band style. The font I have kept the same as on the digipak and magazine advert to also become part of the band style, and the parallel block colour also does this. The green strips add an extra dimesion to a design that would otherwise be quite dull, but i think the simpleness of this design works well with my band style thus almost creating brand style.

Russia Inspired Digipak's

Whilst doing looking for inspiration from other bands digipaks I have come across a lot of popular bands that have utilised a very Russian Propganda style with their imagery.I was very intirgued as it appears that it is quite popular with target audiences similar to ours. One of the popular bands I found were Franz Ferdinand:

The straight lines emerging from her face reflect power and control is a lot like propaganda posters. The soviet propaganda poster below is extremely similar and the message emmited by the image seems to be one of pass on the word which is a very clever marketing technique to make the product popular.


The text on this soviet poster is very bold like the Franz Ferdinand front cover which fits in with the general style of the bold statement front cover.

paganda texts, to make up an A shape that stands for Athlete! The bold block colours make a big statement and have a connotation of power and brilliance.

This album cover for Art Brut vs. Satan has a distinct propaganda style feel to it with the lines and blocks of colour coming from set points as in this Chinese communist poster where the lines emanate from the man in the foreground giving him the power; thus drawing your eye to that fixed point. The use of red is also instrumental in these texts as it is startling with many connotations with blood, anger and predominantly power.

Digipaks for Bands Influencing The New York Fund

On their MySpace page, The New York Fund have outlined some of the bands/musical artists that have inspired them and although The New York Fund would not impersonate the styles of their idols it is interesting to look at the album covers of the artists who inspire them and more importantly their music.

Neil Young

This Neil Young Album was released as his debut solo album in 1968 and so reflects the 'Hippy' style fashion that was popular at this time. The artwork is very clever showing Neil Young's already famous face on his own instead of with a band (he was in many). It also reflects the turbulent time of 1968 which was the middle of the Vietnam War, Martin Luther King Jr is assassinated, Andy Warhole is shot, The Nigerian Civil War, Robert. F. Kennedy is also assassinated etc. The waving sky perhaps shows the uncertain days in which this is released and the psychedelic colour reflecting the popular culture in the 60's.

The image of Neil Young in shades of green with the upside down cityscape on his clothing also reflects the love of nature and peace in this era. By appearing in this green filter light Neil Young is portraying himself as not entirely human. On top this in his music he tends to tell a story and this front cover mirrors this technique.

Another of Neil Young's album covers which is of stark contrast to that of the one above which is bright and cheerful, this album, After the Gold Rush released in 1970 is very bleak with a solarised picture of Neil Young passing an old woman in the street. After listening to this album I have realised why this album merits this dark album cover as the songs enlist a sorrowful tone with a hint of despairing love this album cover really does reflect the saying "life is hard and then you die".

At least we cant say that Neil Young is predictable, from the album above to the one below!

The Band
The Band's album inventively named The Band (released is very plain with a picture taken of them at Woodstock. The browny green border colour doesn't really do much for the appeal of this album, but the photo gets their image out there and has the opportunity to become an iconic image like those of The Beatles, queen etc. which show the band in their glory!

Bob Dylan

Moving on to a more interesting album cover from another artist inspiring The New York Fund.
This fuzzy image reflecting the rush of modern day life (hence the title of the album). At this point in Dylan's career he is very well known and thus there is no need for him to put his own image on his album cover however his earlier albums have photos of himself on the front to get his image well known and recognisable.

Ryan Adams
Similarly, this image on Bryan Adams album reflects the title of the album; 'Heartbreaker' as this photo has a depressed, languid feeling which also reflects the type of music he produces. The cigarette that is in both of his albums (above and below) shows a state of solitary solemn contemplation and adds to the relaxed tone of the images. The cover above has a black band across the top to make the text stand out with his name in white conveying a sense of innocence juxtaposed against red text the says 'Heartbreaker' shows perhaps that there are two different sides to Ryan Adams' music. and due to the fact that his name is in a different font to that of the title adds more import to his name which would make the audience recognise the artist as well as his image.

The album cover below is in grey scale which is a commonly used technique that creates a monochromatic image that doesn't distract any attention yet again from the coloured forms on an image in this case his name which stands out in electric blue and would draw the audience's attention to it in a shop!

Teenage Fanclub

These two album covers are extremely different from those I have looked at above. The first is very interesting; it is from a compilation album consisting of alternative versions of their songs which was released in 1995. The front cover is easily recognisable and memorable with red writing which stands out against the perverse image and perhaps brings to mind the image of blood in context with the cruel image in which someone seems to be enjoying having a bag over their head with a shouting face on the front. This front cover is strange in the fact that it does not seem to relate to anything, and the album title of Deep Fried Fanclub also does not seem to relate. This shows how album covers don't have to bear relevance to the material or can have an agenda of their own.

Yet another strange album cover from The Teenage Fanclub, they do not seem to mind what the image is on the front of their albums as long as they are interesting and original. This image for instance seems to be referencing the way in which pollution affects the world and we just sit back and watch. with the image of the factory smoke heading up towards the darkened sky split by a deep cut producing light amongst the cloud. A conundrum.

Have audiences become more empowered and active consumers of media texts in recent years?

Consumer habits in recent years

View more presentations from hblyth.

Digipak Cover Plans

These are my initial ideas for the design of my digipak cover. I am aware that these may change slightly over the course of making it. Idea 3 (below) is the idea I like the most so this is the plan I am going to use.

Idea 3 is my favourite concept as it is simple and the geometric pattern is by far the best due to the way they seem to emanate from Tamas' face and the designs without the geometric pattern are a little dull and have too much happening.

I really like the idea of making a bold statement with the digipak cover by using bright primary colours against a black background to create a striking stand out image. I also think it is important when a band is new to have a picture of the band members or the lead singer on the front to make them easily recognisable and to promote the band's image, however many bands do not do this in their first album release for example:

On top of this I want to create a recognisable image for the band that can be used in promotional merchandise; the use of red and yellow in a geometric pattern makes a bold statement next to the pallid grey scale face of Tamas.


Update: I have just realised that although I love this colour scheme, it is the colours of the German flag which makes this album cover quite confusing in terms of nationality as the band is called The New York Fund, it has a German flag background, a review saying 'Best new British Band' and vaguely Russian looking text.

Although this may be a good design and if it was to be used in 'the real world' this would be fine, however in the specification it defines that the digipak should show elements of Britishness! This is why I have had to change my design slightly (see below).

By adding the green and blue graphics to the design some ofthe simplicity has been lost from it but the added brightness and the way it no longer looks like the German Flag makes this a lot better.

Comedy and Music

Many comedy films have been made about the Music Industry, however in recent years the music industry seems to have become increasingly obsessed with money and the power struggle between consumers and producers. On top of this the age of Rock 'n' Roll is over and it is no longer a socially acceptable fact to take drugs and drive your car into a swimming pool. This is shown by the condemnation of Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty for taking drugs. Don't get me wrong I am not condoning copious amounts of drug taking that colours the lives of Ozzy Osbourne and Jimi Hendrix but the music industry now seems so uptight, only accepting mainstream artists if they fit a certain genre: tall, skinny, muscular, good looking and an ability to sound just like everybody else. The days of liking music for musics sake and forgetting the private life of artists is at an end!



Still Crazy Trailer
This film released in 1998 spans the careers of a hit band of the 70's and their attempt to revive their music lives with a reunion tour of some of the most disgusting venues. This film is a satirical view of rock stars and their lives incorporating good music with alcohol, drugs and jokes. This sort of film has also been released recently with 'The Boat That Rocked', in this respect it is not unusual to see comedy and music hand in hand. However these film are all based in the past music scenes and the current stars of the music industry are taken extremely seriously, with magazine stories covering parts of their lives and constantly analysing what they wear and what they do. This serious view on the industry dictates the type of mainstream music that is now produced and all sounds slightly similar as to stray from the tracks of acceptable behaviour is to be under ridicule and is career suicide in the eyes of the music industry.



'Big Bottoms' by Spinal Tap from the film This is Spinal Tap, as you can tell from this clip comedy is used satirically just as in Still Crazy through a fictitious band and their lives. Set in the time of release (1984) this moc-umentary tries to reveal the lives behind the music and the use of comical songs like 'Big Bottoms' certainly does make a satire of the music industry.

As I have said before the world of comedy and music often combine to create a whole new experience. Comedians like Tim Minchin, Victoria Wood and Bill Bailey do this perfectly, as during their stand-up performances they perform funny songs.


Basically what I am trying to say is that Music and Comedy mesh so well and yet the music industry is full of rules and intrusion from the media industry that the comedy is often overlooked. so wouldnt it be great if audiences were not so concerned with the private lives of the celebrities but are more interested in enjoying the music and having fun!

The Reigning Champion of Disney

Without a doubt in mind if I had to choose a Disney Character that reigns supreme it would have to be Genie from Aladdin. He with stands the pass of time and the pass of new generations of Disney characters (that are now fused with Pixar)to still be the popular icon that he is today.

It is not only this that persuades me, he is the king of Disney. I have formulated a list of reasons why he is Disney's best creation and have backed some these points up with evidence:

1. He is the ultimate performer - sing, dance, entertain, magic, comedy, impressions (Robert De Niro - Taxi Driver - 'You Looking at me?'
2. He is blue and so easily recognisable, i mean how many floating blue men with no legs are there?
   
3. He is a huge symbol of magical power and prowess
   
4. He is compact
5. Powerful
6. Immortal - never ending peace
   
7. He can change shape!
8. Knows how to party
9. One man army - so can defeat anyone (even Russia)!
   
10. Speaks many different languages
    
11. He gives wishes to anybody who rubs his lamp meaning that he treats everyone fairly and with the same rules applied:

• No wishing for more wishes - shows intelligence which is also shown by his rule of no refunds!
  
• No Killing - Shows morals
• No bringing people back from the dead - also shows morals and intelligence but free thinking and an ability to rule
• No forcing people to fall in love - he does not mess with minds

All of the above are shown in the clip below:


8. The Genie cares about friends - knows who to trust
9. He promotes selflessness - didn't hold Aladdin to his promise
10. He doesn't care about looks with a big blue belly and a silly comic hair cut
11. He is now free to do whatever he pleases and so he has more power

All of these things are shown in the ending scene of Aladdin:



By adding all these factors together you discover that the Genie would be a magnificent ruler and the fact that he has been locked away from the world for years should not be a draw back, for example all you need to do is look at Nelson Mandela who was locked away for years but ultimately became a peaceful ruler.

From the point of view of the creator's side the Genie is very interesting because they have implemented many stereotypes but at the same time broken many, for instance the genie is over weight with a bubbly cheerful disposition which is a huge stereotype. On top of this he has a gold earring and a curly beard signifying that he is from the middle-east. These techniques are rife within Disney but the Genie breaks some of these rules by transforming in to American icons like Forrest Gump (Aladdin and the Prince of Thieves). So he is unique in the way that he is designed and the methodology he transmits. If you were looking for a Disney character to reign supreme in terms of representations the best one to choose would have to be Mulan, who although has to masquerade as a man to do what is neccessary, she is an empowering symbol to women, showing that what men can do so can women in so doing creating an equality between the sexes.

Going back to the Genie however we should always remember that underneath all the blue satirical comments he is .... Robin Williams! Which in itself deserves a crown!