Designing the Band: Building a Brand for Starting Tomorrow

When people talk about Starting Tomorrow, they usually start with the energy—how the music hits, how the crowd moves, how the room feels electric. But behind that experience is something more subtle, and just as important: the design.

As the lead singer of the band, I’m often front and center on stage. But off-stage, I wear another hat: designer. And from day one, I knew that if we wanted to be taken seriously—not just as musicians, but as a business—we needed to look the part.

From Garage Band to Brand

Back in 2016, like many bands, we started with a name, a few songs, and a bunch of ambition. But as we began to book more shows and play bigger stages, it became clear: talent isn’t enough. The live music scene—especially in competitive areas like the Lehigh Valley—is saturated with great players. What sets a band apart isn’t just how it sounds, but how it presents itself.

That’s when I turned to what I knew best: design. I had built brands for global clients in my professional life, and I knew we needed to treat our band with that same level of intention.

Building the Identity

The first step was our logo and branding system. I wanted a visual identity that felt bold, modern, and flexible—something that would work just as well on a t-shirt as it would on a stage banner, poster, or Instagram story. From there, I built a website that was sleek, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate.

It wasn’t just about aesthetics. It was about creating a digital home that reflected who we are: tight, energetic, professional. A band that takes the time to do things right.

Marketing Like We Mean It

Marketing a band isn’t just about posting gig flyers anymore. It’s about storytelling. Through our visuals, I wanted to communicate more than just upcoming shows—I wanted to convey the vibe of our performances, the passion behind the music, and the professionalism people can expect when they book us.

I designed digital assets for social media, custom animations for promo videos, and downloadable one-sheets for booking agents. Every detail matters—from typography to color palettes to how the site loads on an iPhone.

The Challenges Behind the Curtain

Of course, it hasn’t always been easy. Balancing design work with rehearsals, shows, and personal life isn’t simple. Sometimes I’d be editing photos or coding a layout at 1 a.m. after loading out from a gig. And the hardest part? Designing for your own band.

There’s a vulnerability in putting your creative work out there, knowing it represents not just your design sensibility but the collective identity of five other people you care about. There’s pressure to get it right.

But every time a venue emails us back saying we look "incredibly professional" or a couple chooses us for their wedding because our website "stood out from the rest," I know it’s worth it.

Why It Matters

Music is emotional. But perception is visual. Before anyone hears a note, they’ve already formed an opinion based on what they see. A clean, consistent brand signals trust. It shows that we care. It shows that we're prepared. And in a business where reputation means everything, that kind of design matters more than people realize.

So while the crowd may be dancing to the rhythm and the melodies, I know part of what brought them there was a logo, a website, a flyer, a vibe—something visual that made them stop scrolling and pay attention.

Design didn’t just help us look like a real band. It helped us become one.