Matt Saunders · Dave Batt
Matt Saunders is a freelance specialist systems designer for recording and production of immersive audio performances.
He is the Technical Director of the ColourScape Music Festival, and live sound engineer. Matt practices creative use, misuse and abuse of technology for artistic endeavours.
Client
Matt Saunders
Deliverable
Business Card
Creative team
Dave Batt
Overview
This project was created for Matt Saunders, a specialist in immersive audio systems and Technical Director of the ColourScape Music Festival.
His work blends engineering with artistic experimentation, often pushing technology beyond its intended use. The brief was intentionally open. The aim was to create a visual response to his practice and influences, with a focus on both heritage and innovation.
Challenge
The challenge was to balance historical reference with a contemporary visual language. A key influence was the Pallophotophone, an early recording device that helped shape modern audio technology. With no fixed constraints, the difficulty was not execution but direction. The process required defining a clear visual approach while avoiding unnecessary complexity or overworking the idea.
My Role
I led the project from concept through to final execution. This included art direction, typography, layout, and overall visual development.
Process
Research into Matt’s background and the evolution of audio engineering informed the direction. His appreciation for legacy equipment became a central theme.
The visual approach combined technical diagrams with structured typographic layouts. While the typefaces were modern, the composition referenced traditional print methods such as letterpress and manual typesetting.
Custom adjustments were made to selected letterforms to improve readability and create a more cohesive system. The design developed through exploration, followed by refinement once a clear direction emerged.
Result
The final piece connects historical and contemporary elements, reflecting both the origins of recording technology and the experimental nature of Matt’s work.
It also highlighted an important lesson in presentation. I approached the handover with too much attachment to the outcome, which limited open feedback. Even in a relaxed, collaborative setting, the role of the designer is to solve a problem, not to defend a solution.
That experience has shaped how I present work since. Clear, neutral communication creates better outcomes and stronger collaboration.