LOGO FOR "GEAR, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE" PODCAST (2023)

“Gear, There And Everywhere” is a podcast hosted by several musicians known for accurately covering/recreating Beatles songs, in which they talk about the gear (guitars, amps, basses, etc.) The Beatles used, both on stage and in the studio. Topics have included recreating the tones from the songs, the history of the instruments, and discussions about the recordings sessions themselves. I’ve been friends with one of the hosts for a number of years and pitched the idea of creating a very special logo for his new show. I presented the hosts with two potential directions I could take, and they picked one, which was the extent of any brief I was given.

The target audience of this new branding consists of musicians obsessed enough with the musical gear The Beatles used during their recording career, to the point where they listen to a podcast about it. If they're listening to a podcast about Beatles instruments, there's a good chance that they own a few replicas themselves, or at least really know what they look like. The great thing about working on this project, was I am a part of the target audience myself. The kind of people who will notice if a pickup selector switch is the wrong colour, a Rickenbacker reissue-guitar has period-inaccurate knobs, a Vox amp grill cloth is the right shade of brown and can tell the difference between Ludwig Black Oyster Pearl and Blue Oyster Pearl drum wrap.

First, I created a base set of letters with the same typeface to use for the entire logo. Using these, I started creating near photo-realistic digital replicas of instruments. Replicating everything from the wood grain, coloured finishes, body contours, down to every little screw and knob. No photographic elements were included in any of the finished letters, only my own digital recreations. There were several challenges that became evident during the design process.

The main challenge was simply how time consuming creating each letter of the logo. Each letter took at least an hour to complete, with some of the more elaborate designs taking two or three. Another challenge was choosing which instruments would be included in the design, with the main considerations in the choosing being how “important” certain guitars were to The Beatles history, and also how well a non-letter-shaped instrument could be adapted to fit certain letters.

In working on this design, I had to really think outside of the box and be able to look at the original instruments in enough of an abstract way to match letters with guitars. Symmetrical instruments tended to be matched with symmetrical letters, “single cutaway” asymmetrical guitars worked best with letters with rounded sections and stems. 

Through the process of designing the logo for “Gear, There And Everywhere,” I gained valuable insights into both the intricacies of the design-process and the deep connection between music and its instruments. One key lesson was the importance of patience and precision; each letter took considerable time to perfect, highlighting how attention to detail can significantly elevate the final product.

I also learned how to approach design with a conceptual mindset, requiring me to think creatively about how to blend the shapes of letters with the characteristics of various instruments. This challenged me to view the instruments in an abstract way, allowing for a more imaginative integration into the typography. Additionally, the experience deepened my appreciation for the historical significance of the Beatles' gear, reinforcing the idea that design can serve as a powerful medium for storytelling within the music community. Overall, this project not only honed my technical skills but also enriched my understanding of the passionate audience I aimed to engage.