Dublab

A proposed identity system for an experimental online radio station in Los Angeles that explores the question: how can you draw with sound?

Related project: Order and Chaos
Instructors: Brad Bartlett, Ivan Cruz, Miles Mazzie
Category: Identity, type design, interactive, print
Year: 2018

Future Roots Radio

Dublab is an independent online radio that prides itself on being a hotbed for emerging music, art, and culture. Since 1999, its experimental ethos has attracted musicians including Flying Lotus, Daedelus, and many more.

As a kid in LA, I’ve been a big fan for as long as I can remember. Their tagline ”Future Roots” refers to their style of mixing old and new to create something fresh.

Drawing with Sound

I created a unique tool for making posters and large-scale installations through sound synthesis.

The Processing program works like a feedback loop: images are translated to sound, sound is visualized on the oscilloscope, then that sound is filtered, which affects the image again. It’s like a synthesizer for visuals. The code is based on the open source XYscope library.

Posters

Custom Typefaces

Two typefaces were developed for Dublab based around sound.

DB Data Mono is a true monospace revival of Data70 in sine- and square wave variants inspired by the concept of Future Roots.

DB Circuit Mono is a connected digital “script” based on the way type is rendered on oscilloscopes, used for the logotype.

Web

Collateral

Inspired by the concept of Future Roots, dot matrix printing plays a prominent role in the identity. Dot matrix paper becomes an envelope and letter in one.

In Conversation

I met Mark (Dublab’s founder) at an event where he gave a talk on chance in music. Looking to get deeper into my research, I struck up a conversation. He was passionate and excited to share.

I asked directly what interested Mark that Dublab could do more of, and he mentioned that Dublab had a large archive of interviews with musicians that he felt was important to preserve. I took the initiative to propose a print version and transcribe one of the most memorable interviews.