Instinct Vol. 7
A scientific brand activation for Monstercat Instinct
At least four times every year, Monstercat releases music compilations for its Uncaged and Instinct labels. These releases are major events within our community and require creative concepts flexible enough to span a variety of applications, including album art, animations, live events, and an entire apparel collection. To make things even more complicated, our in-house creative team was tasked with telling the origin story of our mascot, set on a mysterious island, using the album compilation events as the vehicle. I was responsible for the creative direction of the Instinct label and also for contributing to the storytelling and world building on a high level in collaboration with illustrators Amanda Cha and Kezrek Laczin.
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Album Artwork
Apparel Collection
Youtube Animations
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Art Direction
Graphic Design
Illustration (except bobcat)
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Bobcat Illustration by Amanda Cha
Apparel Graphic Placement by Linda Aristizabal
Animations by Valeria Searle
Photography by Lindsey Blaine
The Album Artwork
This artwork reveals the temperate forested region of the island featured in Monstercat's origin story. Based heavily on my own surrounding on the West Coast of North America, the album cover highlights iconic flora and fauna of the area including: redwood tree branches, chantrelle mushrooms, dogwood blossoms, and gopher snakes. The style is inspired by early 20th century scientific illustrations, emphasizing close observation and appreciation for one's environment and a dedication to craftsmanship.
*main panel artwork featuring bobcat by Amanda Cha
Supporting Graphics
Continuing the theme, the layouts of the supporting graphics look like they've been torn straight out of a vintage text book. Meanwhile, the display typeface is on-trend for apparel applications, balancing vintage elegance with a contemporary twist.
