Objective

Each year, Continuum Contemporary Music refreshes their visual identity to reflect the seasons’ programming, and to highlight the experimental and cutting edge spirit of the artists and musicians.

We designed the identity and graphics for the 2022-2023 season’s programs; a milepost occasion following the previous year’s pause on live performances due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Deliverables

— Styleboards

— Identity Design for 2023 Season

— Media Templates

— Riso Print Design

Problems to Solve

Develop cohesive creative assets for digital screens and risograph print

The visual identity for the season would mainly live on digital platforms. But brochures and postcards were also needed for announcing the performances. Colour selections, designs, and layouts had to be compatible for both mediums, with special consideration for risograph printing.

Representing musical energy while maintaining design functionality

We needed to create graphics that would represent each unique program while balancing functional information like titles, contributors, and supporters.

Details

Setting the right rhythm and tone

In the same experimental spirit as the music from CCM’s concerts, we explored different juxtapositions of mixed shapes and vibrant colour to create texture and tension in a way that would hint at the story and energy of the sounds through the eyes of the musicians.

While static, the graphics seek to visually convey the kinetic gestures, notes, and sounds, inspired by CCM’s remarkable musical performances.

Finding the beat with offbeat typography

“Spore Wind” was just one of the concerts for the 2022-2023 Season. Included in the list of contributors to the performance was Bekah Simms, a Canadian composer.

When writing one of her past pieces of work “Bite,” composer Bekah Simms discussed how she used uneven spaces of silence to reflect the unsettled moments she experienced when quarantined at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

To amplify that idea and speak to CCM’s contemporary approach to musical composition, we selected a modern reverse contrast typeface with interesting counters, or rather, interesting negative spaces within the letters for the main program titles.

Media graphic designs and templates to build a social symphony from

In addition to engaging with fans through social media, CCM also regularly uploads interviews, performances, and other content to YouTube. Video title cards, lower thirds, and end credits templates were designed to echo the visual identity across digital platforms.

Results

“ I just want to share - we are SO thrilled! These designs represent the season and each concert so beautifully, and we can't thank you enough!

It's really clear how much time and consideration went into the individual concert designs, particularly Show Room and Spore Wind. “

CHRISTINA VOLPINI — COMPOSER, OPERATIONS MANAGER, CONTINUUM CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

Check out the full project here.