Tëaze - An 80’s Hair Band Tribute
Graphic Design / Photography / Art Direction / Stylist
2016 - 2026
Challenge
Tëaze, a local 1980’s hair metal tribute band, needed a social media presence that felt as distinctive and energetic as their sound. The challenge was to develop engaging content that captured the nostalgia and visual language of the era while reflecting the band members unique personalities.
Deliverables
Holiday cards, social media event banners, and photography.
Research
The band provided a logo surrounded by hot pink leopard print, and we were tasked with conceptualizing various photoshoots for use with promotional materials as well as social media event banners (and occasionally merch designs) that mimicked the energy, excess, glamour, and rebelliousness that 1980’s hair bands exuded. Through watching music videos, studying classic band tee designs, thumbing through popular metal magazines and photoshoots, examining vintage ads, and of course listening to the top songs of the era, our concept became all about good times and nostalgia.
We wanted every design and image to feel exciting, spark a fond memory, and take the viewer right back to their youth. In order to re-create this vintage look and feel, we decided we would use a variety of techniques such as layering textures to give a wrinkled, weathered, or torn effect. Bursts of bright neon colors could be used to accentuate fonts or become a contrasting backdrop. Natural and neutral colors and textures such as denim, leather, wood, metal, and old paper could represent the “grit” and provide a relief amongst all the saturated color. Muted and faded colors and imagery paired with a classic font and layered with texture also delivered a retro look.
Photography
Inspired by the various photos within the folds of magazines such as “Metal Edge” and “Circus,” many of the curated photoshoots involved colored gels and hair lights to re-create the “glamour shot". When photographing live shows the goal was to capture the energy, attitude, and outrageousness of a live 80’s rock concert. Hairspray, teasing combs, bandanas, and leather jackets were all mandatory accessories and crucial for representing the culture and aesthetic of the period. Poses that included jumps, and wild or comical expressions helped to foreshadow the energy you could expect to witness at a live show.
