How to Play a Record

How to Play a Record

2021
instructional brochure
Graphic Design II
Print

How to Play a Record examines digital illustration and type arrangement in a six-step instructional brochure. My illustrations consist of blown-up photographs of vinyl records overlaid onto photographs of record-related paraphernalia. Each panel graphic is digitally manipulated with a variety of transparency and coloring techniques. I am challenged to use photography and typography in tandem to communicate a series of clear and concise instructions.

process

In this project, I am inspired by postmodern photography and collage. As such, I photograph vinyl records from my personal collection and overlap the images to create a multitude of colorful digital collages. The resulting graphics bear complex textures and designs that serve as the foundational elements for the panels of the brochure. In addition to my own photography, the final collages also include close-up shots of record players*. The contribution of these supplementary photographs enriches the textures and colors of each panel design.

*The record player photographs were retrieved from Unsplash.

Systems

I study vintage record covers in order to select a typeface that befits my abstracted collages. I ultimately opt for a prominent, condensed display typeface, Rama Gothic C Heavy, that remains legible when texturally or anatomically altered. The bold strokes of the letterforms complement the stark and dynamic medley of collaged photographs in the background.

final application

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