Studio News
Moog Audio | Giving Form to Sound
Date:
April 10, 2021
When Moog Audio approached us with this project, they made an unusual request—complete creative freedom. The only guideline? Everything had to be in black and white. This rare carte blanche immediately sparked an idea: creating life-sized visual tableaux with real actors, where the stark contrast between black and white would become a defining element. We wanted to play with the extremes of light and shadow, pushing the tension between presence and absence. But once again, the pandemic had other plans, forcing us back to square one and reshaping the direction of the project entirely. What started as boundless freedom quickly became a new creative challenge.
Understanding the Concept
Music is intangible—it exists in vibrations, in resonance, in moments between silence and sound. Our goal was to visually translate this ephemeral nature, to make sound visible in a way that felt immersive and conceptual. Two fundamental ideas shaped our approach: first, that music transcends us with its timeless nature, and second, that sound itself could be rendered metaphorically as a liquid—fluid, ever-changing, and deeply immersive.
The contrast between black and white became more than just an aesthetic choice; it was a way to represent duality—the coexistence of silence and sound, of structure and chaos, of presence and void.
Creative Approach & Execution
With in-person productions on hold due to pandemic restrictions, we pivoted towards an experimental approach that relied on abstraction and contrast. To bring this vision to life, we collaborated with a Montreal-based artist known for his sharp social critique and unconventional use of medium. His expertise in manipulating contrast and depth allowed us to take the project in a new, unexpected direction, where limitations became a strength rather than an obstacle.
Textures, distortions, and movement became essential tools in creating the illusion of sound as a physical presence. We explored visual representations that mimicked the organic flow of music—shifting between sharp, structured forms and chaotic, fluid compositions. Instead of merely illustrating music, we aimed to create an experience where visuals and sound merged into a singular expression.
Overcoming Challenges
Working within strict aesthetic and logistical constraints forced us to rethink our usual methods. Unlike traditional projects, where lighting and composition are built around a subject, this time, contrast itself became the subject. Every element had to be distilled to its essence—no colors, no distractions, just pure form and emotion.
The biggest challenge was striking the right balance between abstraction and recognizability. We didn’t want to lose the connection between the visuals and the core identity of Moog Audio. Every frame had to evoke the feeling of sound—its energy, movement, and immersive quality—while staying true to the company’s identity.
Final Delivery & Impact
The result was nothing short of a perfect fit for Moog Audio’s vision. By stripping away unnecessary elements, we created a series of visuals that were raw yet sophisticated, abstract yet deeply connected to the nature of sound. The project became an exploration of how sound, space, and contrast interact—a visual identity that feels as timeless and dynamic as music itself.
A huge thank you to Florian for his invaluable contribution to this ambitious yet intimate project.
