GRAPHIC DESIGN

Conduit Records Branding

Jazz record label Conduit Records approached me on a freelance basis to design their first ever release, Julian Priester's "Deep End Dance". Starting there, I worked directly with the CEO of Conduit Records to establish brand standards to carry forward in all future album releases.

The CD faces were to all have the split-face design. On top, the Conduit Records logo would always be located in the same spot/size, perpendicular to the rest of the design below. Under the logo was the copyright info, release date & catalog number. The background color on the top half of the CD was allowed to change and compliment the design below. It was the artist's choice how the CD face would look below the center line of the CD.

The CD case spine would maintain consistent placement of the Conduit Records icon and catalog number of the album on a black background, separated by a thin rule line from the rest of the spine. The rule line was allowed to change color.

Clear jewel cases were always to be used, to display the Conduit Records logo through the case in the bottom left.

Jay Roulston - "Monkey Mind Control"

Jay Roulston is an experimental jazz band leader who plugged his trumpet into guitar effect pedals to create innovative sounds. I worked directly with the CEO of Conduit Records to arrive at this design.

To start, the "monkey head" logo was my creation. The photos and their art direction were done prior to me getting involved with the project. I did however, manipulate the image on the back of the jewel case in Photoshop to obtain the striking high contrast effect. The effect on the front cover was achieved by a long exposure, where band leader Jay Roulston stood still, while his band mates jumped up and down to create the ghost-like effect.

Charlie Smith Circle - "Ahead and Behind"

Charlie Smith Circle is a Seattle jazz band, lead by none other, than Charlie Smith. The photos and their art direction were done prior to me getting involved with the project. I took the image from the cover and manipulated it in Photoshop to get the result you see on the CD face for the trees. I worked directly with the CEO Conduit Records to arrive at this design.

Julian Priester - "Deep End Dance"

Julian Priester is an accomplished jazz musician who's played with the likes of Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley and Lionel Hampton. This was the first ever release for Conduit Records, where I helped develop brand standards for future album releases. I worked directly with the CEO of Conduit records to arrive at this design.