A Vintage Pass to the Big Band Era:
Designing the Authentic Visual Score for the Drumming Legends
A Vintage Pass to the
Big Band Era:
Designing the Authentic Visual Score for the Drumming Legends
PROJECT TOOLKIT:
Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design, After Effects, GetResponse
PROJECT TOOLKIT:
Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design, After Effects, GetResponse
THE SETLIST
Deliverables
THE SETLIST
Deliverables
This campaign was the full concert, a complete visual arrangement built around a high-impact vintage poster and extended across digital and physical stages, ensuring every element hit the right note of mid-century flair, all in service of a great cause.
This campaign was the full concert, a complete visual arrangement built around a high-impact vintage poster and extended across digital and physical stages, ensuring every element hit the right note of mid-century flair, all in service of a great cause.
The Head Arrangement: Key Deliverable
The main event poster was a hand-painted digital illustration, featuring a vintage screen-print texture, which was ultimately used as a signed collectible memorabilia.
The Head Arrangement: Key Deliverable
The main event poster was a hand-painted digital illustration, featuring a vintage screen-print texture, which was ultimately used as a signed collectible memorabilia.
The Rhythmic Section: Digital and Motion
Social media assets included all group photos and the core poster artwork, all optimized for various platforms.
The Rhythmic Section: Digital and Motion
Social media assets included all group photos and the core poster artwork, all optimized for various platforms.
Digital Communications included the complete newsletter design, with banners featuring the throbbing drum animation.
Digital Communications included the complete newsletter design, with banners featuring the throbbing drum animation.
Post-show Promotion
A follow-up email showcased an animated artist gallery to promote Encore content.
Post-show Promotion
A follow-up email showcased an animated artist gallery to promote Encore content.
Animated Title Cards featuring animated artist names, were created for performer video introductions used on the video-wall and live stream.
Animated Title Cards featuring animated artist names, were created for performer video introductions used on the video-wall and live stream.
The Stage Presence: Physical Assets
The Big Band Stand Banner featured an iconic logo directly inspired by the bold initials and monograms found in classic bass drum heads.
The Limited Edition Event T-shirt featured this vintage-style logo, instantly elevating the merchandise into a powerful, high-impact collectible asset.
The Stage Presence: Physical Assets
The Big Band Stand Banner featured an iconic logo directly inspired by the bold initials and monograms found in classic bass drum heads.
The Limited Edition Event T-shirt featured this vintage-style logo, instantly elevating the merchandise into a powerful, high-impact collectible asset.
TUNING UP: THE OVERTURE AND THE CAUSE
The Mission's Tempo: A Timeless Rhythm for the Future
TUNING UP: THE OVERTURE AND THE CAUSE
The Mission's Tempo: A Timeless Rhythm for the Future
Our mission was to compose a striking visual identity for a two-day, all-star drumming tribute to the titans of the Big Band era: Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Louis Bellson and Joe Morello. The performance itself was a fundraiser, working in tandem with a non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting music education in schools.
The visuals needed to be more than just marketing; they had to capture the dramatic flair, sharp staccato, and deep resonance of a big band performance. We needed a look pulled from the past to generate momentum for the future, proving that the legacy of these legendary drummers could still inspire and fund the next generation of musicians.
Our mission was to compose a striking visual identity for a two-day, all-star drumming tribute to the titans of the Big Band era: Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Louis Bellson and Joe Morello. The performance itself was a fundraiser, working in tandem with a non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting music education in schools.
The visuals needed to be more than just marketing; they had to capture the dramatic flair, sharp staccato, and deep resonance of a big band performance. We needed a look pulled from the past to generate momentum for the future, proving that the legacy of these legendary drummers could still inspire and fund the next generation of musicians.
DRAFTING THE SCORE: CONCEPTS THAT LOST THE CADENCE
No Room for Squares: Toning Down the Dissonance
DRAFTING THE SCORE: CONCEPTS THAT LOST THE CADENCE
No Room for Squares: Toning Down the Dissonance
Before the final arrangement was settled, we experimented with several concepts that missed the vital rhythm and connection to the Big Band history:
Before the final arrangement was settled, we experimented with several concepts that missed the vital rhythm and connection to the Big Band history:
Concept A
The Lone Drum Stage
Concept A
The Lone Drum Stage
This focused on a highly stylized single drum set against a backdrop of draped curtains with minimal text hierarchy.
Verdict: Too static. It lacked the dynamism and personal connection needed for a tribute event, focusing on the instrument rather than the performer's energy.
This focused on a highly stylized single drum set against a backdrop of draped curtains with minimal text hierarchy.
Verdict: Too static. It lacked the dynamism and personal connection needed for a tribute event, focusing on the instrument rather than the performer's energy.
Concept B
Vector Silhouette Rhythm
Concept B
Vector Silhouette Rhythm
We attempted a clean, contemporary look using a large vector silhouette of musicians (drummer and saxophonist) against a stylized cityscape.
Verdict: Too flat. While graphic, the look was modern and cold, failing to capture the texture and grit of the 1950s hand-printed posters.
We attempted a clean, contemporary look using a large vector silhouette of musicians (drummer and saxophonist) against a stylized cityscape.
Verdict: Too flat. While graphic, the look was modern and cold, failing to capture the texture and grit of the 1950s hand-printed posters.
Concept C
Flat Graphic Arrangement
Concept C
Flat Graphic Arrangement
This highly illustrative concept featured colorful, flat-design musical instruments (trumpet, saxophone, piano keys) scattered across the page.
Verdict: Too busy. The design felt more like a musical diagram than a high-energy concert poster, lacking the brassy volume and soul required to celebrate the explosive nature of big band drumming.
This highly illustrative concept featured colorful, flat-design musical instruments (trumpet, saxophone, piano keys) scattered across the page.
Verdict: Too busy. The design felt more like a musical diagram than a high-energy concert poster, lacking the brassy volume and soul required to celebrate the explosive nature of big band drumming.
This thorough process confirmed that the dramatic, hand-crafted aesthetic and the visibility of the legendary drummers was the only key that would allow the project to truly swing.
This thorough process confirmed that the dramatic, hand-crafted aesthetic and the visibility of the legendary drummers was the only key that would allow the project to truly swing.
HITTING THE HIGH NOTES: THE IMPROVISATION CHALLENGE
The Low-Res Blues: When the Source Material Went Flat
HITTING THE HIGH NOTES: THE IMPROVISATION CHALLENGE
The Low-Res Blues: When the Source Material Went Flat
Our initial run-through hit a serious snag: the available reference photos of the Big Band legends were too small and low-resolution for a large-format poster. This meant that simply scaling them up would result in unacceptable pixelation when printed in a large scale. The challenge was obtaining dynamic, period-specific portraits of the Big Band legends; since new, period-accurate photography was an impossibility, we were forced to rely on existing low-resolution archival photos. To maintain the crucial historical illusion and avoid the visual dissonance of low-resolution archival shots, we had to digitally recreate their stage presence from the few images available.
This forced a high-stakes improvisation: shifting from photo manipulation to pure digital artistry.
Our initial run-through hit a serious snag: the available reference photos of the Big Band legends were too small and low-resolution for a large-format poster. This meant that simply scaling them up would result in unacceptable pixelation when printed in a large scale. The challenge was obtaining dynamic, period-specific portraits of the Big Band legends; since new, period-accurate photography was an impossibility, we were forced to rely on existing low-resolution archival photos. To maintain the crucial historical illusion and avoid the visual dissonance of low-resolution archival shots, we had to digitally recreate their stage presence from the few images available.
This forced a high-stakes improvisation: shifting from photo manipulation to pure digital artistry.
THE CRESCENDO: THE FINAL VISUAL SOLO
The Definitive Cadence: Digitally Painting the Legends
THE CRESCENDO: THE FINAL VISUAL SOLO
The Definitive Cadence: Digitally Painting the Legends
To create the powerful visual resonance required, I transformed the images into stylized portraits, echoing the hand-rendered work of the Big Band era's lithographers:
Controlling the Dynamics: I used heavy chiaroscuro (strong contrast between light and shadow) to give each drummer a sense of intense stage presence, as if lit by a single spotlight.
Painterly Texture: Each portrait was meticulously hand-painted digitally in Photoshop to incorporate the rugged texture of screen printing, ensuring our legends visually joined the Big Band aesthetic tradition.
To create the powerful visual resonance required, I transformed the images into stylized portraits, echoing the hand-rendered work of the Big Band era's lithographers:
Controlling the Dynamics: I used heavy chiaroscuro (strong contrast between light and shadow) to give each drummer a sense of intense stage presence, as if lit by a single spotlight.
Painterly Texture: Each portrait was meticulously hand-painted digitally in Photoshop to incorporate the rugged texture of screen printing, ensuring our legends visually joined the Big Band aesthetic tradition.
The Head Arrangement: Bold Type and Dramatic Layout
The Head Arrangement: Bold Type and Dramatic Layout
The final poster is a controlled explosion of graphic design—the project’s powerful, climactic solo—perfectly balanced to shout "Major Event" while preserving "Classic Cool."
Type That Swings: I customized bold, condensed typefaces that had the specific personality of mid-century show bills. The typography itself creates a clear visual rhythm, working with the portraits, not just around them.
The Color Key: The palette was intentionally restricted to rich blacks, fiery reds, and muted golds. While we explored other combinations, the high-contrast drama of the red proved most authentic and effective for mimicking the limited printing processes of the time.
The final poster is a controlled explosion of graphic design—the project’s powerful, climactic solo—perfectly balanced to shout "Major Event" while preserving "Classic Cool."
Type That Swings: I customized bold, condensed typefaces that had the specific personality of mid-century show bills. The typography itself creates a clear visual rhythm, working with the portraits, not just around them.
The Color Key: The palette was intentionally restricted to rich blacks, fiery reds, and muted golds. While we explored other combinations, the high-contrast drama of the red proved most authentic and effective for mimicking the limited printing processes of the time.
Dynamic Layout: The painted portraits are framed by high-contrast color fields and graphic bursts, mimicking the movement and energy of a drummer mid-solo.
Final Vibe: The result is a piece that feels thick with history. This powerful visual aesthetic was critical, as the limited-edition prints were destined to be signed by the performers, instantly elevating their collectible value.
Dynamic Layout: The painted portraits are framed by high-contrast color fields and graphic bursts, mimicking the movement and energy of a drummer mid-solo.
Final Vibe: The result is a piece that feels thick with history. This powerful visual aesthetic was critical, as the limited-edition prints were destined to be signed by the performers, instantly elevating their collectible value.
THE FULL ARRANGEMENT: ORCHESTRATING THE CAMPAIGN'S FLOW
Cohesion is Key: The Visual Ensemble
THE FULL ARRANGEMENT: ORCHESTRATING THE CAMPAIGN'S FLOW
Cohesion is Key: The Visual Ensemble
The identity needed to maintain its rhythm across all channels, digital and physical, subtly reinforcing the charitable event's purpose.
The identity needed to maintain its rhythm across all channels, digital and physical, subtly reinforcing the charitable event's purpose.
The Subliminal Beat
Digital
The Subliminal Beat
Digital
For digital communications, particularly the newsletter, we took a simplified version of the art and added a subtle, continuous "throbbing" animation. This was precisely timed to mimic the hypnotic, low-frequency pulse of a bass drum, a visual heartbeat that underscored the event's rhythm and the lifeblood of the foundation.
For digital communications, particularly the newsletter, we took a simplified version of the art and added a subtle, continuous "throbbing" animation. This was precisely timed to mimic the hypnotic, low-frequency pulse of a bass drum, a visual heartbeat that underscored the event's rhythm and the lifeblood of the foundation.
The Section Introductions
Motion Graphics
The Section Introductions
Motion Graphics
For video intros and the video wall, the drummers' names were revealed with a sharp, punchy write-on animation style; this utilized uniform, legible vintage typography after the initial idea of using the artists' real signatures was deemed unsuitable for high-speed clarity.
For video intros and the video wall, the drummers' names were revealed with a sharp, punchy write-on animation style; this utilized uniform, legible vintage typography after the initial idea of using the artists' real signatures was deemed unsuitable for high-speed clarity.
The Live Set
Physical
The Live Set
Physical
We designed an iconic logo for the Big Band's drum stand banner, directly inspired by the bold initials and monograms found on the heads of classic bass drums. We explored two distinct concepts for this logo and ultimately selected the second design. To ensure versatility for future events, its color scheme was adapted to the company's brand colors of black and orange. This logo was also used as the art for the event's limited edition T-shirt, making it a powerful piece of exclusive, collectible memorabilia.
We designed an iconic logo for the Big Band's drum stand banner, directly inspired by the bold initials and monograms found on the heads of classic bass drums. We explored two distinct concepts for this logo and ultimately selected the second design. To ensure versatility for future events, its color scheme was adapted to the company's brand colors of black and orange. This logo was also used as the art for the event's limited edition T-shirt, making it a powerful piece of exclusive, collectible memorabilia.
FINAL MOVEMENT: STANDING OVATION
Conclusion
FINAL MOVEMENT: STANDING OVATION
Conclusion
The visual design campaign successfully brought the electric energy of the Big Band era roaring back to life. By committing to the digitally-painted, vintage style, the project overcame its image hurdles and created a suite of assets that felt genuinely immersive. This cohesive visual system was successfully tied into and amplified across all supporting media. The final posters, made unique and valuable after being personally signed by the all-star drummers, became the ultimate high-value items, ensuring the legacy of the Big Band greats continues to inspire and fund the next generation of musicians.
The visual design campaign successfully brought the electric energy of the Big Band era roaring back to life. By committing to the digitally-painted, vintage style, the project overcame its image hurdles and created a suite of assets that felt genuinely immersive. This cohesive visual system was successfully tied into and amplified across all supporting media. The final posters, made unique and valuable after being personally signed by the all-star drummers, became the ultimate high-value items, ensuring the legacy of the Big Band greats continues to inspire and fund the next generation of musicians.
© 2025. All Rights Reserved.
All work for hire projects belong to their respective companies.
© 2025. All Rights Reserved.
All work for hire projects belong to their respective companies.
© 2025. All Rights Reserved.
All work for hire projects belong to their respective companies.