Palette
Black and white carry the design. Red picks out short headlines, graphic marks and key details.
Music · Culture · Visual System
Black Canal Records
An identity that goes from record sleeve to street poster.
A visual system for an independent label. Condensed type, black-and-white photography and flashes of red tie together the pieces for each release.
Project overview
BrandBlack Canal Records
SectorMusic / Culture
ServicesVisual system, Editorial design, Digital direction
Year2025
Work shownArt direction, poster, vinyl sleeve, zine, press kit and digital mock-ups
01
Brief and direction
Brief
Build a system that gives the label a recognisable identity while leaving each release room to look different.
Direction
Keep a few things fixed, including the weight of the headlines and the use of the monogram, and let the imagery and textures change with each release.
02
Main mockups
03
Visual system
Typography
Tall, condensed lettering stacks neatly and keeps the label name readable on sleeves and posters.
Symbol
A compact monogram signs a sleeve, a press kit page or a social image.
Textures
Grain and print marks give the pieces the feel of handled paper and street posters.
Patterns
Type blocks, edition marks and frames can move around the layout and still feel like part of the label.
Photography direction
High-contrast live photography captures the feel of a gig while leaving room for release details.
04
Applications in context
05
Digital
The website, social and promotional mock-ups show how stacked type and live photography can carry over to the screen.
06
How it all comes together
The vinyl sleeve, poster, zine and press kit show what stays recognisable and what can change from one release to the next.
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