Record House
WINTER 2023/24I was hired by Record House, a boutique recording studio run by producer and engineer Mark Matters, to redesign their logo and website. The studio offers an accessible, artist-focused experience, a rare space in NYC where up-and-coming musicians can record in a professional setting without compromising on sound quality or vibe.
The new logo builds off the concept of sound, waveforms, reverberation, and pulse, while reflecting the warmth and flexibility of the studio’s approach. The shape I created is versatile and expressive. It functions as a solid, knockout, or outlined mark, giving it range across different mediums.
Visually, the symbol captures two layers of sound. The outer form nods to a mellow, low-frequency wave, kind of a chill bassline that sets the tone, while the interior layers peak and dip like high-energy frequencies in a track. It’s a quiet-loud balance that mirrors the dynamics of music production.
The typeface, Coolvetica, felt like a perfect match, bold, modern, and slightly nostalgic, with a curved-legged “R” that adds a bit of personality. It references the timelessness of Helvetica, but with a fresh, independent edge, much like Record House itself.
Playground
Before we landed on the final shape, I played around with a few other ideas. I started the project with a brand questionnaire to better understand Mark’s goals for Record House. From there, I built out a strategy rooted in creativity, warmth, and professionalism. I created mood boards exploring color palettes, type systems, and visual references tied to audio and analog equipment, landing on a direction that paired confident, high-contrast typography with a palette that felt expressive but grounded.