Brand Guidelines – Make a Difference with Records
I was tasked with creating a logo and brand guidelines for a second-hand record shop in Godalming, Surrey. M.A.D Records is the creation of Mark and Anthony who have had a lifelong passion for music, and vinyl in particular.
All proceeds go to Catalyst, a local non-profit supporting mental health and working with people affected by alcohol and drug abuse. Their vision is reflected in the name: making a difference within the community through selling pre-loved records, and reconnecting people to music.
My Role: Branding, Creative Direction, Graphic Design
Make a Difference with Records: Final Logo
Taking inspiration from the founders’ love of 70s music, I chose a psychedelic-inspired font and retro colour palette. I was briefed to incorporate a smiley face into the branding, and thought it would be a great opportunity to make the logo into a record.
Logo Options
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The Original Brief
The founders loved the idea of a smiley face wearing a quaver music note as headphones, with arched text. I followed the brief and they were very happy with their initial idea, and use this as their secondary logo.
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The Official Logo
The visual representation of a vinyl record makes the brand instantly recognisable. Even if you can’t read or remove the text, this logo would still translate well onto bags, t-shirts, or store signage.
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The Logo That Never Was
It’s difficult as a designer to part with a design you truly resonate with, and this was one of those for me! While the client didn’t decide on this logo, I still love it, with the blocky retro text warped into a record shape and the gap between the words acting as a ‘glint’ off a glossy vinyl.