End of an Ear Rebrand

Project Details

Fall 2024 Rebrand

Deliverables:

  • Logo and Brand Identity

  • Business Cards

  • Merch Designs

Summary

End of an Ear is a local Austin record store known for its wide selection and approachable, no-fuss atmosphere. For this rebrand, I explored visual connections between ear and music imagery to create a playful yet grounded identity. The project includes a logo, type system, color palette, and supporting brand applications designed to reflect the store’s friendly, knowledgeable character.

Challenge and Discovery

For research, I explored the character of End of an Ear and how it compares to other local record stores like Waterloo, Antone’s, and Breakaway Records. I found that End of an Ear stands out for its authenticity, with a knowledgeable, approachable staff and a wide-ranging selection. These qualities became the foundation for the brand direction.

Toward the end of the logo design process, I had difficulty choosing between two directions, an illustrated “ear man” and a record player concept. Although I initially moved forward with the ear figure, I continued to revisit the record player and created color studies for both, ultimately using that process to make a final decision.

Sketches

Using a structured ideation process, I created a matrix of keywords to guide early exploration and generate a wide range of visual concepts rooted in ear and music imagery. This approach helped push beyond obvious ideas and led to more unexpected and playful directions.

Typographic Explorations

Digital Logo Drafts

Digital Draft Color Studies

I used these color studies to explore both final logo directions more fully and better understand how each would function across different palettes. This process helped clarify the strengths of each concept and ultimately guided my final decision.

Final Design

Ultimately, I chose to move forward with the record player concept. The square mark naturally echoes the format of an album cover, strengthening the connection to music and record culture. The color palette brings in a subtle vintage feel while still feeling current, capturing the shop’s balance of authenticity and relevance.

Reflection

This project challenged me to translate a brand’s personality into a cohesive visual system. Through research and iteration, I learned how to make more intentional decisions about form, color, and typography, and how each element contributes to the overall tone of a brand. Working through multiple directions and refining them through feedback helped me develop a clearer sense of what makes a concept feel both distinctive and appropriate.