Create a Band: Branding, Promotional Design & EPK

LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
Students will be able to design a cohesive band identity and promotional package by creating a band name and logo, a t-shirt mockup, a tour poster, and an electronic press kit (EPK) using Adobe Express; they will justify design choices with audience and genre considerations and produce a one-page press kit that summarizes the band's identity and materials.

ASSESSMENT:
Students will deliver a completed promotional package including: (1) a band name and 1–2 logo variations (digital files), (2) a t-shirt mockup, (3) a tour poster (print-ready layout), and (4) a one-page electronic press kit (EPK) that includes a short bio, genre, contact info, and embedded artwork/images. Mastery is measured by a rubric evaluating (a) consistency of visual identity across items, (b) clarity and professionalism of EPK content, (c) technical execution in Adobe Express, and (d) evidence-based justification for design choices referencing the target audience and genre.

KEY POINTS:

• Visual identity: how typography, color palette, and imagery establish genre and audience expectations; consistency across logo, t-shirt, poster, and EPK is essential.

• Adobe Express skills: basic layout, image import and editing, typography controls, using templates responsibly, exporting print- and web-ready files.

• Press kit content: concise band bio (3–5 sentences), genre/tagline, key contact info, high-quality images, and links to music or social handles; focus on clarity and professionalism.

• File and production considerations: correct file dimensions and resolution for print vs. digital, and naming/export conventions for submitting assets.

• Design rationale: students must explain choices (font, color, imagery, hierarchy) tied to the intended audience and musical style.

OPENING:

• Hook: Play 30 seconds of three short music clips (different genres). Ask: "If each clip had a band logo and a concert poster, what would they look like? Why?"

• Brief overview: share examples of band logos, t-shirts, and posters (projected) and a one-page EPK sample. Point out consistent elements.

• State the goal: "By the end of this project, you will have a complete promotional package ready to present to a venue or upload to a portfolio."

INTRODUCTION TO NEW MATERIAL:

• Demonstrate on screen (live or recorded) Adobe Express basics: creating a new project, selecting templates, importing images, editing text, and exporting assets. Show saving for print vs. web.

• Walk through logo design fundamentals: silhouette readability, scalability (works at small and large sizes), and a simple color palette. Show strong vs. weak examples.

• Explain poster layout hierarchy: headline (band name), date/location, ticket info, and visual focal point. Discuss alignment, contrast, and negative space.

• Model building a one-page EPK: concise bio, short quote or press blurb, contact line, high-res image, and links. Show a strong sample EPK with annotations.

• Common misconception to anticipate: "More design elements always make a design look professional." Clarify that a simpler, consistent design often reads as more professional and adaptable across media.

GUIDED PRACTICE:

• Behavioral expectations: work respectfully in pairs or small groups, headphones optional for music, keep file names organized (BandName_assettype_v1).

• Step 1 (15 min): In pairs, choose a music clip or genre and write a 1-sentence band tagline and a 3–5 sentence bio draft. Teacher circulates, asking probing questions: Who is your audience? Where will you play?

• Step 2 (20 min): Using a provided worksheet or projection, students sketch 2 logo concepts on paper (thumbnail sketches). Teacher prompts: "Which will read at small sizes? Which reflects genre?"

• Step 3 (30–35 min): At computers, create a logo concept in Adobe Express (or adapt a template). Teacher models how to adjust typography and color; circulate and give targeted feedback. Scaffolded questioning moves from: "Can you find a readable font?" to "How does this color palette influence perceived genre?"

• Monitoring: teacher uses a checklist to note students who need technical help and those who need conceptual feedback; quick mini-conferences for formative checks.

INDEPENDENT PRACTICE:

• Behavioral expectations: independent work, save often, respect peer feedback time, and submit files to the class folder by the deadline.

• Assignment (in-class and possibly extend across days): Complete all four deliverables:

  1. Final logo (PNG with transparent background and a black/white version).

  2. T-shirt mockup (front design on the correct size canvas).

  3. Tour poster (11" x 17" or A3 layout with headline/date/location/ticket info).

  4. One-page EPK (PDF or shareable web link) containing the final bio, a short press quote (real or student-written), contact details, and embedded images/artwork.

• Students must also write a design rationale explaining choices for typography, color, imagery, and how the package targets the intended audience and genre. This rationale ties directly to the rubric categories and demonstrates mastery.

CLOSING:

• Quick gallery walk (physical or digital): each student/group posts thumbnail versions of logo + poster/EPK. Students give one compliment and one suggestion (structured peer feedback).

• Exit ticket (one short question): "Name one design decision you made that supports your target audience and why."

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

• Students who finish early can create alternate assets: a band website mockup landing page, social media banner versions (Instagram, Facebook cover), a 30-second promotional video or animated social post (storyboard only if tools unavailable), or prepare a short pitch to present the EPK to a hypothetical venue manager.

STANDARDS ALIGNED:

• National Core Arts Standards (Music/Media Arts & Visual Arts connections) — e.g., "Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work."

• ISTE Standards for Students — Creative Communicator: "Students choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication."