ARTISTS
UNCOVERED
KALI U
UCHIS
Perfect - Tyler The Creator and Kali Uchis
Kali Uchis is a 23 year old Columbian-American artist and was recently nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2017. She describes herself as a visual artist, conceptulizing a project before putting it in motion.
Feautured on the right is Kali Uchis and Tyler The Creators “Perfect” she describes this early brand design phase as “all pastels and blonde and pink, very dreamy and angelic, very baby” she then says her new brand design(Tyrant, Nuestro Planeta) is “more mature, becuase she is more mature.” Kali has strong creative control over all her projects, as her brand image is essential to who she is as an artist.
Her visual identity became an essential part of her life after she was kicked out of her home when she was 17. She started making clothes, producing videos, and creating album art for others in order to make a living. Being Latina is also a huge part of her identity, and she incorportes that into her visual elements. Constatly using Latinax symbolism/design and mixing that with her love of retro gives her a unique brand idenity. Kali Uchis looks like her music sounds.
Kali Uchis is an excellent example of good design. Her intergration of different design styles give a cool factor that is truly unique to er. I think NOISEY states it perfectly “her style touches on classic reference points from the 60s throuhg hte 90s, but she presents herself in a way that never feels like shes just cashing in on nostalgia”. It just works on Kali
Tyrant - Kali Uchis
“I’m just the daughter of a hard-working immigrant that came to America. That’s it.”
Tyrant- Kali Uchis
Kali has strong ties to her Columbian She alsomusic mentions roots. Many of her videoshow have since her family greweven up been shot in Columbia and have with family nothing, was hard featured her in itthem.When formixing them both to accept asked about Spanishthat and she music wanted be an artEnglish in her shetostates “Span“You knowway yourI famglish is theist. most honest know ily gives up everything how to communicate, it allows me to for my you, theytowant you communicate vision the fullest” to become a doctor or a lawyer, and all I wanted to do was make art. Of course nowmentions they arehow since her famShe also proud ily ofgrew me, up and they with nothing, it was hard will always love me”. for them to accept that she wanted to
be an artist. “You know your family Kali has strong ties to her for you, they want gives up everything Columbian Many you toroots. become a doctor or a lawyer, of her and music videos have all I wanted to do was make art. been Of shotcourse in Columbia now they are proud of and have featured me, even and they will always love me”. her family in them.When asked about mixing both Spanish and English in her music she states “Spanglish is the most honest way I know how
DEMI LO
OVATO
Demi Lovato is a 23 year old singer, songwriter, and actress who began her career at the young age of 10 years old. Demi Lovato’s style of music would be classified as pop-rock which is where her design choices stem from as well. In her most recent songs/albums her design has headed to the zebra striped/neon area, made for people who want to seem alternative.and edgy. Demi frequently mixing silver metallics with moody imagery to portray a troubled but still alternative look.
This is bad design because there is no reasoning behind it, her albums and music videos seem like a mix of Katy Perry/Lady Gaga/ and bad teen clothing. In my opinion there is an overdesign happening as well, I never know where to look because everything is so unnecessarily cluttered with patterns and colors and textures. Demi’s design truly is just inappropriate for her level of talent and long career.