Crescendo
Designing an exhibition for the world's most played instrument
Crescendo is a self-initiated identity for a mock museum exhibition covering the evolution of the piano. Encompassing hundreds of years of influence as the world's most played instrument, the brief I set for myself was to represent the piano's rich history in an elegant and sophisticated package that pays homage to the past and outlines the future innovations still to come. I designed, illustrated, and animated the identity below.
How do you adequately represent an exhibition celebrating the most popular instrument in the world? An instrument with more than 300 years of history and is as relevant today as it has ever been? The identity needed to celebrate the piano’s immeasurable impact and storied history, its modern appeal, and its inevitable role in the future of music and culture. It also needed to build affinity for the piano by encouraging visitors to get involved, making the identity as interactive as the instrument itself.
The solution represents the piano’s innovation: the ability to change volume and intensity. The typography tells that story between the lines, as each headline grows in boldness from soft and elegant to boisterous and proud. The typeface, Denton by Peregrin Studio, is based on expressive headline titling from the 1900s that’s as popular today, mirroring the instrument’s timeless appeal. The color palette is based on the original piano’s materials: dark ebony wood that made up the housing, off-white ivory keys, and red felt that lined the top of each key. To represent the vibrance of the instrument, animated piano ribbons stretch across each frame to highlight the varying shape of the music. Finally, an interactive promotional tool was created for fans to become involved even before their visit.
Agency: Self-initiated
Design: Will Simmons
Motion Design: Will Simmons
Type: Denton, Peregrin Studio
