Riser is a non-profit record label operating within the Thames Valley but located within Reading. The brief was to create a brand that is distinct from its parent company Readipop’s Charity branding but should reflect the aims of supporting local and underrepresented acts and potentially hint at the label's link to the charity. The brand should reflect the eclectic mix of genres and artists likely to feature on the label, as well as its locality and the fact we will be launching young artists.
This project was done through the University of Readings BA Typography and Graphic Communications Branding Project (TY3BP) module. The branding was later pitched to the client Riser, via an in-person presentation, as part of the module. Riser uses the content created for them, check out their Instagram to see the brand.
Concept
The organisation aims to take talented, socially excluded and under-represented artists, and springboard them into careers within the music industry. As a team, Alex Gwynne, Henoch Munzimba and Eva Doger de Speville, we developed a fresh yet consistent visual identity. The identity allowed us to propose a set of deliverables based on research which identified the most important touchpoints of our users with the brand.
LogoThe Riser logo is the most important asset to refer to our brand, and should not be altered, changed or tweaked in any way.
Here there are displays on how the logo can be used in a variety of situations.
Here there are displays on how the logo can be used in a variety of situations.
These should be used and adapted when it is most suitable, for example, the logo being used on a gradient background should use the white-out gradient.
The wordmark is dynamic and bold and provides a scalable mark. It is recommended that the icon only form is used within the smallest applications and for framing. In the largest formats, the secondary logo is most suitable.
Initial sketches of concept 2
Development of concept 2
Deliverables
Social media
Our client specified that a social media account was key to the brand's marketing campaign. Our visual identity system allowed us to manipulate and de-construct colours to use for categories, as well as use the logo for creating interesting frames for any photography.
We also created a set of Instagram filters which could be used by the audience, such as listeners and artists. These filters used the visual identity and enhance the engagement between the brand and the audience.
Poster series
Through our initial research, we were able to identify that a bus stop poster could be used to interact with all of our audiences. A bus stop poster is a key touch-point for our artist-audience who may be socially excluded and roaming the streets of the town centre.
Web presence
All graphics are created to drive people to Riser’s website where they can find can more information on Riser or their artists and events. This is also where aspiring artists can come to get in contact with Riser.
Mainly the same rules are used for digital platforms as for print, but in the digital area, it is very advantageous to use recurring components. Some components to be used for websites and similar digital applications.
Animation
These animations are to be used at the beginning of YouTube music videos to establish the brand and to give the artists another level of professionalism. The rising and building of the animation resonate with Riser's values of being a springboard and rising talented artists to the next step of their music career.
The white logo animation should be used on top of a dark background and the darker logo on a lighter background. This is to create enough contrast to keep the logo identifiable and legible. The gradient logo should be used on rare occasions, such as presentations or pitches.
Pitch document to Riser, including visual identity & guidelines proposal