Music made the new Apple Music logo
The next time you look at the Apple Music logo, prepare to rethink what a visual identity can be. This isn’t just a pretty design; it’s a sonic masterpiece, born from a fascinating physical experiment where sound literally painted the picture.
Apple Music recently unveiled a dynamic redesign for its logo, a process that completely eschewed traditional digital animation in favor of a hands-on, musical approach. The team behind this stunning visual identity collaborated with audio collaborators Fred again.., audio experts NEST Acoustics, and the creative agency TBWAMedia Arts Lab to bring this concept to life.
Instead of simply animating a digital design, the creative team decided to use original musical compositions to physically generate the rippling visuals that now define the platform’s new look. The process was pure alchemy.
How did they do it? The team utilized a technique known as cymatics, which is the study of surface vibrations made visible using a thin coating of particles or liquid. Individual musical notes were played through a specialized device that converted sound energy into physical vibrations within a shallow pool of mineral oil. These resulting vibrations created waves and distortions that were then captured on camera, forming the mesmerizing patterns seen in the final logo and wordmark.
This ingenious method transformed sound into sight. The resulting footage provided the foundational visual identity for Apple Music, establishing a new sonic signature that is intrinsically linked to the platform’s sound.
What makes this move particularly striking is Apple’s decision to treat music not as an element added to a finished advertisement, but as the absolute starting point for the entire design process. In an era saturated with AI-generated imagery and digital effects, Apple opted for a physical, tactile experiment involving music, liquid, light, and a camera.
It’s a clever piece of sonic branding that serves as a powerful reminder: sound is more than just the soundtrack to a visual identity. In this case, the sound itself created the visuals. It’s a beautiful demonstration of how vibrations can literally create the world we see.
Buy on Amazon
Credit
