From Sound to Style: Translating Music Culture into Visual I…

1. MAIN AIM OF THE ESSAY

The essay explores how music culture can be translated into visual identity, specifically within fashion branding.

The core idea:

• Music is abstract (sound, emotion, rhythm)
• Graphic design translates this into visual language (typography, colour, layout, texture)
• Fashion becomes a physical extension of music culture

The essay must clearly show:

• How music influences identity, lifestyle, and attitude
• How graphic design acts as a bridge between sound and fashion
• How this is applied practically in the brand Velvo

2. PROJECT CONTEXT (VERY IMPORTANT)

Brand name: Velvo

Type: Experimental fashion brand

Main inspiration:

• Playboi Carti
• Opium collective
• Underground / experimental music culture

Velvo is:

• Dark, raw, emotional, futuristic
• More of a statement and attitude than just clothing
• Inspired by music-driven youth culture

The brand explores:

• Distortion
• Chaos
• Imperfection
• Emotion
• Rebellion

3. KEY DESIGNERS TO ANALYSE

The essay MUST closely analyse at least two designers:

David Carson

Focus on:

• Ray Gun magazine
• Rule-breaking layouts
• Distorted typography
• Emotion over readability
• Postmodern design

Key ideas:

• Dont mistake legibility for communication
• Design as feeling, not just information
• Connection to alternative music and youth culture

Chris Ashworth

Focus on:

• Ray Gun magazine
• Techno-grunge style
• Constructivist influence
• Layering, repetition, texture
• Combining digital and handmade processes

Key ideas:

• Imperfection as a strength
• Structure + chaos
• Visual rhythm similar to music

4. HISTORICAL & CULTURAL CONTEXT

The essay MUST include context:

David Carson:

• 1990s
• Rise of alternative music, skate culture, youth rebellion
• Reaction against clean, modernist design
• Cultural rule-breaking reflected in design

Chris Ashworth:

• Transition from analogue to digital design
• Early Photoshop and Illustrator experimentation
• Scanned collages + digital layouts
• Technology influencing visual culture

Then:

• Compare this to todays culture
• Social media, digital-first identities
• Music + fashion + visuals blended into one system
• Opium aesthetic spreading online

5. ANALYSIS OF OWN PRACTICAL WORK (ESSENTIAL)

The essay MUST analyse the students own work, not just designers.

Work 1 Inspired by Paula Scher

Key points to include:

• Fashion photograph of a girl in lo-fi / grunge styling
• Dynamic walking pose creating movement
• Typography built around the body shape
• Multiple fonts, sizes, hierarchy
• Accent colours used intentionally
• Colour palette: black, brown, beige
• Influence of Paula Schers expressive typography

Focus on:

• Typography as main visual element
• Movement, rhythm, scale
• How this communicates brand identity

Work 2 Inspired by Chris Ashworth

Key points to include:

• Poster made from six photographs of a hoodie
• Different angles + close-ups to show details
• Digital stage: Illustrator, text, QR codes, logo, textures
• Physical stage:
• Poster printed twice
• One cut into uneven strips
• Mounted onto foamboard
• Strips layered misaligned to create texture
• Glitch / disruption effect
• Colour palette: white, mint, beige, black text
• Contrast between light background and bold typography

Focus on:

• Combining digital and handmade processes
• Texture, layering, imperfection
• Visual rhythm inspired by music

6. SOFTWARE & PROCESS

The essay should mention:

• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Photoshop

Used for:

• Layering
• Texture
• Composition
• Distortion
• Experimentation

Design process should be described as:

• Experimental
• Emotional
• Similar to music-making
• Willing to take risks

7. KEY CONCEPTS TO USE THROUGHOUT

The writer SHOULD repeatedly reference:

• Rhythm
• Repetition
• Contrast
• Layering
• Silence / negative space
• Emotion
• Imperfection
• Energy
• Chaos vs structure

8. CONCLUSION REQUIREMENTS

The conclusion MUST:

• Reflect on learning and development
• Explain how design and music use similar tools
• Show how Velvo successfully translates sound into visual identity
• Mention future possibilities:
• Motion graphics
• Interactive design
• Sound-reactive visuals

Tone:

• Reflective
• Confident
• Forward-looking

9. WHAT TO AVOID

• Over-academic language
• Complex theory (semiotics, structuralism, etc.)
• Over-explaining basics
• Writing like a professional designer instead of a student
• Generic fashion descriptions

10. FINAL CHECKLIST

The final essay MUST:

• Be clearly structured
• Reference designers + own work equally
• Connect music graphic design fashion
• Stay within B2C1 English
• Feel personal, reflective, and design-led