Project Overview
About the Client / My Role
Epic Live was launched as a cultural performance platform rooted in community, design, and underground energy. Positioned as a Complx Creative initiative, Epic Live served as a hybrid brand and live event venue, hosting shows for emerging musicians, artists, and performers in the Cincinnati/NKY scene.
I was brought in to take an early-stage logo and build it into a cohesive brand identity system — designing everything from show flyers and social campaigns to stage visuals and the web experience. While my developer partner built the technical backend, I led the full creative direction across visual identity, UX strategy, promotional design, and live production branding.
What Made This Unique
Epic Live wasn’t just a brand—it was a test of belief.
It emerged at the intersection of ambition, underground culture, and real-time creative execution. You didn’t inherit a polished brand or a functioning event system. You inherited a name, a raw logo, and a vision still in flux—and were tasked with building the entire world around it.
What made this project truly distinct was how many dimensions you owned simultaneously:
• It wasn’t just identity.
• It wasn’t just visual design.
• It wasn’t just event marketing.
• It was everything happening at once—and in public view.
The Process
From Table Talk to Ticket Scans
Our work started with in-person meetings and calls with the venue owner to understand his full vision. He wanted more than just a brand—he wanted a working system to promote shows, sell tickets, and scan them at the door. I translated that vision into a structured creative plan.
Brand Identity & Logo Refresh
I took the client’s initial logo idea and refined it into a clean, modern mark suitable for both digital and physical use. The style had to reflect the raw, versatile, rock-forward aesthetic of the events, while remaining professional and adaptable.
UX Mapping & Website Build
Using Left Field’s white-labeled CMS, I created wireframes and mockups for Epic Live’s site—including:
• Homepage layout
• Ticket sales integration
• Event calendar
• Email sign-up CTA
• Admin access for show management
I collaborated with the developer to launch a mobile-responsive, ticketing-ready site that worked for both performers and event attendees.
Flyer Design & Marketing Output
All flyer and promotional materials were handled in-house by me. This kept the branding consistent and flexible but demanded fast-paced production to keep up with multiple shows. Flyers were optimized for web, mobile, print, and social distribution.
Strategic Challenges / Solutions
Loose Brand Foundation
→ Transformed a rough logo into a full-scale identity system — including typography, color, usage guidelines, and adaptable visual structure
→ Transformed a rough logo into a full-scale identity system — including typography, color, usage guidelines, and adaptable visual structure
No Web or Ticketing Presence
→ Directed the full visual design of a new website with e-commerce functionality, while collaborating with a developer for build and deployment
→ Directed the full visual design of a new website with e-commerce functionality, while collaborating with a developer for build and deployment
Fast Turnaround, High Volume
→ Designed all flyers, calendars, and promo materials in-house using a modular system built for speed, consistency, and customization
→ Designed all flyers, calendars, and promo materials in-house using a modular system built for speed, consistency, and customization
Vision-to-Reality Execution
→ Collaborated directly on-location with performers and venue teams to ensure that the brand lived consistently in physical space (stage visuals, signage, live atmosphere)
→ Collaborated directly on-location with performers and venue teams to ensure that the brand lived consistently in physical space (stage visuals, signage, live atmosphere)
Scalability & Creative Load
→ Identified the limitations of a solo designer model and built templated systems to support future scaling — while advocating for expanded creative resources if growth continued
→ Identified the limitations of a solo designer model and built templated systems to support future scaling — while advocating for expanded creative resources if growth continued
Results & Impact
✅ Launched a fully branded e-commerce website
Designed and deployed the visual system for Epic Live’s first ticketing platform — enabling both online sales and point-of-sale redemption at live events
Designed and deployed the visual system for Epic Live’s first ticketing platform — enabling both online sales and point-of-sale redemption at live events
✅ Produced dozens of branded flyers, calendars, and digital promotions
Delivered consistent, on-brand marketing for 20+ events — driving awareness, attendance, and performer recognition
Delivered consistent, on-brand marketing for 20+ events — driving awareness, attendance, and performer recognition
✅ Built visual systems used by artists, fans, and internal teams
Created modular assets and UX flows that supported live show coordination, venue signage, and community engagement
Created modular assets and UX flows that supported live show coordination, venue signage, and community engagement
✅ Contributed to successful shows ranging from intimate performances to full-capacity events
Helped scale show design and marketing from 20+ guest private events to 250+ attendee productions — all under the same visual umbrella
Helped scale show design and marketing from 20+ guest private events to 250+ attendee productions — all under the same visual umbrella
✅ Delivered an end-to-end creative system under Complx Creative
From brand refinement and UX to real-world event production, I executed a full creative vision that proved design can elevate even underground, grassroots platforms
From brand refinement and UX to real-world event production, I executed a full creative vision that proved design can elevate even underground, grassroots platforms
Conclusion / Analysis
Epic Live was a rare and rewarding experience—one where I helped bring an entire creative system to life, from scratch. Working closely with the venue owner, I took the project from a raw building and big vision to a live brand, functioning ticket platform, and packed-out shows. It pushed my creative, logistical, and production limits—and it proved what can happen when you own the full creative process from concept to crowd.
Role Summary Snapshot
- Role: Lead Designer
- Team: 1 Developer, 1 Project Manager
- Tools: Figma, Illustrator, InDesign, Adobe CC Suite
- Team: 1 Developer, 1 Project Manager
- Tools: Figma, Illustrator, InDesign, Adobe CC Suite
