Fly by Day
Fly by Day is a fictional 80s-inspired new wave band created for this design project. Their debut album, Sundrench, captures the essence of carefree summers, youthful freedom, and beachside adventures. The goal of this project is to craft a visual identity that embodies the nostalgic yet rebellious energy of 80s new wave, combined with sun-drenched coastal aesthetics. The album’s design reflects the refreshing, liberating vibe of summer road trips, aimed at resonating with young adults who embrace both retro and modern beach culture.
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Select a music era and research its popular design styles. Using this inspiration, create a fictional band and develop a visual identity, as well as brand identity assets, that reflects the era’s aesthetic trends.
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The challenge is to create a fictional 80s new wave band and its visuals that truly reflect the style of the era while staying original. It’s important to balance nostalgic elements with a fresh design to connect with today’s audience and modern approach to music.
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Solution:
Create a striking and cohesive visual style for Fly by Day that blends 80s new wave nostalgia with modern beach culture, including eye-catching album covers, promotional materials, and merchandise that still adheres to that specific music era and era design style.
Thesis:
The goal is to design a unique look for Fly by Day that combines the fun and rebellious spirit of the 80s with a fresh beach vibe, appealing to both fans of retro music and current trends.
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The target age range of 18-45 includes both young adults who like modern retro styles and older individuals who are nostalgic for the 80s. This broad range appeals to those who enjoy Fly by Day's blend of contemporary and nostalgic elements.
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The objective requires to design the following: branding, one vinyl cover (front, back and sleeve), one cassette (front and back), one pyrotechnics poster, one handbill (front and back), one ticket and music backstage pass, 4 t-shirt designs, one Rolling Stone cover, and one magazine spread
Why did I create the band Fly by Day?
For this project, I chose 80's New Wave because of my personal love for its design. It laid the foundation for many modern styles we see today. The music, like the design, is timeless, with catchy rhythms and vibrant visuals. It’s the perfect blend of nostalgia and fresh energy, capturing the beachy, summer vibe I wanted to convey. This was a challenge I was willing to conquer!
Brand Identity
I was highly inspired by the The Go-Go’s album ‘Vacation’. Instead of going with a common futuristic aesthetic, I decided to try out a beach and summer type of vibe. I envisioned Fly by Day as the perfect soundtrack for a summer drive along the ocean coast, capturing the carefree, sun-soaked vibe of the journey.
Fly by Day's brand identity is inspired by 80s New Wave, combining retro futurism with beachy vibes. The logo features a sun and palm trees, giving off a relaxed, summery feel. I also drew inspiration from vintage radio logos, such as MTV (Music Television) for its bold, graffiti-style design and BBC Radio 1's logo in the 80s evolved to reflect the modern pop and new wave trends, blending clean, bold typography.
The bold, "Razer" style font adds an edgy touch, while the color palette includes bright blues, greens, yellows, and soft pinks, balanced with muted reds and dark blues. A grainy texture adds a nostalgic, retro vibe. The fonts—Screamster for decoration, Basic Lazer for headings, and Matrix II for body text—tie together the bold and carefree style.
Vinyl & Cassette Cover
The album poster teases the upcoming release of Fly by Day's debut album, Sundrench. It incorporates physical elements like sand, sun, and wooden letters to evoke a summer vibe. The accompanying GIF showcases the evolution from the original concept to the final design. These elements were chosen to encapsulate the essence of summer and its carefree, sun-drenched atmosphere! I kept it simple with the typography to let the sun and physical elements shine!
Album Teaser Poster
Cover & Spread
I designed a Rolling Stone magazine cover tailored to showcase Fly by Day in a way that highlights the band’s success and captures their vibrant, retro-inspired essence. The cover incorporates elements of 80’s New Wave design, such as bold typography, bright colors, and dynamic layouts, to create a visually striking homage to the era. This approach not only emphasizes the band’s achievements but also aligns with the nostalgic and energetic vibe of the New Wave movement.
Note: The band used in these photos are The Aces!
The goal of this part was to promote Fly by Day’s upcoming show. The small poster and handbill, designed as a compact flyer, feature 80's-inspired textures and visuals like sunsets and palm trees. The handbill includes both a front and back design for better event details and visibility. These elements capture the nostalgic 80s vibe while effectively promoting the band’s performance and aesthetic palette.
Note: Photo used are from copyright-free from Unsplash!
Poster & Hand Bill
Backstage Assets
The main logo is my take on an abstract form of a brainwave. It features a clean, modern design that symbolizes connection and care, reflecting the commitment to enhancing the lives of dementia patients and their families. The color purple is chosen for their association with innovation, futurism, and versatility of the care given. Our brand messaging focuses on empathy, personalization, and advanced technology, reinforcing Senso’s mission to offer effective and heartfelt support in dementia care. This is complemented by a clean, readable typography that enhances usability, using Grover for header text, and Inter for body.
Project Reflection
Creating a band based on an 80s music era was a fun and educational experience. I learned a lot about how music influences design and vice versa. This was my first time building an extensive brand identity, and although managing my time with other college projects was tough, I improved my skills in Photoshop and InDesign. This project gave me a better understanding of how to use design to express a brand’s vibe and connect with its audience. It was also great to learn how to have a cohesive branding!
I want to take the knowledge and skills I've gained from this project and apply them to real-world branding for artists in the future. My goal is to create impactful and memorable designs that resonate with both the artist and their fans. By leveraging what I’ve learned, I aim to craft unique and engaging brand identities that capture the essence of each artist's music and connect deeply with their audience.