RVA Drum Show
Craft + heritage | 2025-26 | @ricksdrumshoprvaAn event identity for the drum shop’s biggest day of the year.
Alongside a couple of other local businesses, Rick's Drum Shop cohosts an annual gathering for local drummers and collectors (yes, this Rick’s Drum Shop). Since the show has multiple hosts, its branding couldn’t be too rigidly tied to the shop’s. And where the shop’s identity needed to feel timeless and rooted, the show needed something with more energy: an identity that still belonged to the family but announced big event, one night, don’t miss it.
The show was building the word-of-mouth buzz of a can’t-miss event, but it didn’t have a real brand at all.
The main deliverable desired by the client was a poster, eye-catching in both print and digital.
The Client
The annual drum show cohosted by Rick’s Drum Shop and two other local businesses
Brings together local musicians, collectors, and enthusiasts for vendors, performances, clinics, consignment, and more
An offshoot of an established brand but with cohosts; connected but distinct
The Challenge
Should live in the Rick's family, yet stand on its own as an event
Like Rick’s, had to appeal to music lovers at large: young and old, novice and seasoned, drummers and other musicians, no matter their gender
Needed to work across print, digital, and merchandise
The Approach
Keep the hand-drawn, vintage-rooted DNA that inspired Rick’s, but push the boldness
Explore aesthetics that read fun and exciting, yet grounded and layered
The Inspiration
For the hero design: the art deco–era theater where the show takes place, specifically its sconces and their radiating light — which also happen to resemble drumheads
Gig posters for early- and mid-century performers like Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong
The Tactics
Hand-drawn hero design (my signature!) combined with classic typefaces from graphic design history
High-contrast color palette balanced with muted, warm undertones
For the digital deliverables: subtle texture treatments that evoke the dimension of print
The Deliverables
Primary logo + submarks
Muted, vintage-rooted color palette
Hand-drawn illustrative elements
Typography system + brand guidelines
Core collateral
