Midnight City
"Midnight City" is the visual representation of the song of the same name by the band M83, developed through a visual programming language.
Following the strong visual experience depicted in the song's lyrics, relating to a nighttime environment that is dark and contrasted with the city's neon lights, these concepts were transposed into the developed 3D object that moves according to the beats and elements of the music. Based on these elements and the emphasis on the illuminated eyes of the subjects in the original music video, a composition was created based on spherical elements, divided into two moments: the central and the circular surrounding it, representing the pupil and iris of an eye, respectively.
Formally, the colors are also contrasting with the dark background, with a "gradient" effect between pink and blue tones. The music video developed allows viewers to follow the song's lyrics and gain a new visual perspective of its auditory elements.
In addition to the definition of these elements as the music’s identity, typographic and graphic elements coherent with the created language were developed to highlight its characteristics. Thus, two posters were created – extended through augmented reality, allowing the visualization of the spherical elements in motion – animated MUPIs, graphics for a CD and a vinyl record, and their respective packaging, the adaptation of the colors on the Spotify streaming platform, and, finally, as promotion of the project, a t-shirt, a sweatshirt, and two versions of tote bags.
typefaces used: Afronaut and Acid Grotesk
collaborative project with Filipa Pedrosa, Maria Craveiro and Olga Marinho
consultant: Rodrigo Carvalho
FBAUP, May 2023—June 2023