CAM Records reel

Here's the CAM Records reel! It was really important to me that, though I was spotlighting bands and music videos, I really made the CAM Records class look both professional and fun.

Notes: Production Meeting and Reel

We're coming to the end of the design phase! Angie is working on merchandise and the stationary package, 'Chia is working on the sleek new website and I'm cutting the reel.

Here are the notes from our weekly Production Meeting and storyboards and notes for the reel itself.

Open publication - Free publishing - More notes

Stenciled Shirts

Revised Business Cards

CAM Records Envelopes

Student-run Music Label Websites: Competitive Analysis

In attempting to find other student-run music labels like CAM Records I have found four websites that I think are a good representation of student-run music labels. For the purposes of attracting students into the program and presenting a competent presence on the web, it is particularly important to have a website that's clean and professional.

First is Baylor Univerity’s Uproar Records at http://www.uproarrecords.com/uproar/

This website includes lots of relevant information, is maintained with no broken links and is a coherent brand across every page. It’s a good example of a more professional presence, though it’s still too crowded and has under-utilized segments which should be grouped together or left out. The information contained in the website is sporadic and out-of-date.

The next site is The Hayes School of Music (Appalachian State University) Split Rail Records at http://www.splitrailrecords.com/

This website looks professional enough but many of the links are in disrepair and the information isn’t kept up to date. This site is too cluttered and has too many menu options, some of which have little meaning to the layperson.

The third site is Drexel University’s MAD Dragon Records at http://www.myspace.com/maddragonrecords.

MAD Dragon Records uses MySpace as their web presence. They have no coherent branding. They have little information and it is out of date. This is an unprofessional presence for a music business entity.

The last site is UNC-Chapel Hill’s Vinyl Press at http://vinylrecordsunc.wordpress.com/.

This page/wordpress site is linked to many different places and is not a professional presence on the web. Vinyl has no coherent branding across the myriad of different sites it has linked together. The information is missing, out of date and links are broken.

For CAM Record's website we want something professional looking . This means that like information should be grouped together to make the navigation more clean. Communication should be kept up to date or the page (blog, calendar or upcoming shows) should be left out. Branding should be consistent across every instance of appearance on the web.

           -Skye

FYI: The Intercollegiate Record Label Association website: studentrecordlabels.com

Decals

USB Wristbands

LIVE Concert Recordings available immediately after the show... http://everydayennui.blogspot.com/2009/06/live-in-flash-aderra-usb-wristbands-at.html

 

Business Card and Letterhead Layouts

Open publication - Free publishing - More business cards

Open publication - Free publishing - More ucd

Business Card Back

Revised Logos for review

We had a great meeting with CAM Records/Class Act Media on Thursday. After reviewing the three style guides and various logos, Storm and Desiree mentioned a few of their favorites (shown on the top). I have taken these and Desiree's suggestions to compile a new selection of logos for review. On the very bottom you will see some logos I found for inspiration that have to do with downloads. There are already quite a few circle and arrow logos, so I want to be careful that we do not copy something that has already been done. Please leave any comments you have for changes before our class meeting on Tuesday. Thanks!

CAM Records: Client Meeting notes #2

Notes on the client meeting, icon sketches based on feedback and notes on competitive analysis and branding in general.

Open publication - Free publishing - More icon

Feedback

Here is some feedback we received after the client meeting from Desiree in terms of a new direction we could go in:

EPK Inspiration

This is my inspiration for the EPK, or "electronic press kit": a reel spotlighting the different music videos that have been made for CAM Records.

Note that there is a song playing over the entire piece - even when there are obviously pieces which have their own musical accompaniment, the flow of the piece depends on the unification under one song to generate the feeling that we're seing different parts of CAM Records. I also like the idea of using text (here, in a black band in the lower thirds with the studio/author) to clue watchers into the bands being shown, in case someone wants more info or wants to look a video up on YouTube.



-Skye

Angie's Web Style

http://www.jakprints.com/apparel/

http://us.moo.com/

http://www.48hourprint.com/

http://www.bannerpen.ca/

Skye's CAM Records Branding Revisions Extravaganza

WEBSITE:

Why hello, website!  Though this is a simple website, the many actual objects/artifacts add an abundance of interest. This is an example of the MEDIA page where there are links to the band's songs (perhaps a place where they can be purchased?) and a pop-up of the band's video. The pictures are of the class interacting, concerts on campus and the bands.

LOGOTYPE:

Because the logotype is so simple (in both the label and the typewriter form) it can be added to a plethora of objects or made to look like a sticker with no trouble.

However, for the sake of argument...

LOGO:

Here are some traditional logos that capture the "class", "music" and "classic" feel.

Angie's New Logos

CAM Records Creative Brief

Our initial design proposal for CAM Records.

Open publication - Free publishing - More design

Style Guide Surprise - REBRAND of CAM Records by Skye!

I have chosen to rebrand CAM Records - this wasn't my goal but the more I thought about what CAM Records really needed the more sure I was that this was the very best option. Plus this new brand is FUN, you know? I feel like people could really be excited about this corporate entity because of the new style guidelines - check it out, tell me what you think.

-Skye

Open publication - Free publishing - More branding

Skye's preproduction notes

Here are my notes for the initial preproduction phase. Included in this booklet is note and pictures for the current website, competitor’s websites, identity brainstorming, Creative Brief notes, and interview notes.

First Web Mock-Up

This is my initial idea for a new homepage. To keep it simple I have limited the whole site to a total of 6 pages: homepage, CAM Records Class Page, Artists/Bands Page, More info for Bands page and possibly a store for cd's and other shwag. When this page opens the motion graphic will immediately load a short 10-30 second logo animation that can also be used at the beginning of other promotional videos for CAM Records. There will also be a short paragraph about CAM Records which will substitute having a separate page.

Sketches

I started out my thought process by making word maps that would help me choose color palettes. The three themes I started with were: pinstripe suit, old wooden desk and recording studio. On the right side I started sketching out a few ideas for logos.

Below is my initial idea for the re-designed website. Keeping a focus on simplicity and emphasizing the highlights of the CAM Records class instead of the artists themselves. I also added a little biography of the instructor so that incoming students will have an idea of who is teaching this class.

Branding Notes

As we discussed, it is important to keep in mind that prospective students are the main target audience.

The website should emphasize the benefits of the class and "market" to Junior and Senior aged high school students.

Current bands can be listed on a page, however the design and marketing for the individual bands should be done by the CAM Records students or the bands themselves. We are marketing the class NOT the bands.

In addition it would be great to add an application form for bands that are interested in being signed by this student record label.

Typefaces, Color Palette

Logo, Typeface & Color Options

CAM Records: current website design

CAM Records' current website was designed in 2010 and includes several pages. The site appears to be a wordpress template consisting of a header, footer, sidebar and a main body content container. The site also links to an outside blog as a main page. There is setup for a posting board; however this board does not look like it's currently being used. Many of the links are broken and several elements are missing.