The Unwrinkled Ear
Branding and Event Graphics
The Unwrinkled Ear (TUE), a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, is committed to celebrating the global realm of improvised music through performances, exhibitions, collaborations, and publications. TUE creates opportunities for musicians worldwide to connect with local artists and build community through improvisation.
Short Street Studio crafted a brand identity for TUE that aligns with the organization’s distinctive creative vision. The visual elements, from the logo and business cards to the website and concert series posters, embody fluidity and the essence of improvisation—capturing the spirit of "playing it by ear."
Logo Inspiration
Sound serves as the foundation for the TUE logo design. Drawing inspiration from Mesoamerican rock art murals that symbolize speech and breath, the logo embodies a playful and raw representation of sound’s physicality. These murals often feature anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures with dots or lines radiating from their open mouths, creating a simple yet profound visual expression. This concept illustrates the journey of speech and breath, capturing both their origins and trajectory. The logo is a manifestation of this dynamic interplay.
Posters, Collateral & Website
The design of the event posters and website draws inspiration from the artistry of music and performance, as well as the distinctive personalities and stories of the performers. They capture the essence of spontaneous collaboration among diverse talents from around the world, reflecting this vibrant convergence through their visual language.
Concert Posters
The posters creatively merge images of plants or foods native to the performers' homes into surrealistic visuals, celebrating their cultural roots and the eclectic nature of the performances.
Website
The Unwrinkled Ear website employs a minimalist color scheme of black and white, with a dark red accent to highlight the bold, colorful event graphics. Each page header features black-and-white videos from past concerts, evoking a sense of audible silence that contrasts beautifully with the vibrant content.
Business Cards
An alternative logo design is prominently featured on the front of the business cards. The reverse features a QR code that links to all of the organization’s social media—and allows the content to be updated whenever necessary. The cards are printed on natural brown Kraft stock, which adds a warm, tactile element to the cards.
