The Human Complex

Graphic assets, motion design, and visual identity developed for an independent progressive metal band

The Human Complex is a progressive metal band in Colorado and Wyoming. Their style can be described as complex music with raw, unprocessed power. The music uses mathematical guitar wizardry with severe vocals to create an out-of-body sound. I’ve known them for a while and worked with them on graphic needs, and it’s always been a lot of fun and a great creative exercise to help develop their visual identity.
On this page, I’ll cover the original logo I created for the band in 2021, the title cards I contributed for one of their music videos, and a teaser of some new assets and a new logo that are about to come out with their latest album release (December 2024)
original logo
Through experimentation with a variety of tools, I created a title in freeform calligraphy inspired by gothic and fraktur styles using an improvised broad nib pen and thin ink, and the band liked it, so I digitized the design as-is and preserved all the little flaws and mistakes. It stood out from the visual styles of other artists doing the same kind of music as them, and had a raw, dark feel that matched the music they were releasing around their debut.
"The human Complex" logo drawn in a freeform gothic style, in a rough and improvised style, displayed in glowing violet-white on a black background.

The 2021 logo, stylized with a glowing effect

MUSIC VIDEO TITLE CARDs
Band Name
I worked on set and in post production with Funky Carrot Productions and associated creatives to make a music video for The Human Complex’s song Sectumsempra, a dark and violent song featuring an in-depth guitar solo and heavy lyricism. We created the music video as an homage to horror films and, of course, for a creative outlet through which to express negative energy.
I was working to expand my motion design skills, so I created kinetic typography title cards for the band and song names.
I had a broken guitar string left over after we wrapped photography for the music video, and I spent a couple of evenings experimenting with it. I ended up getting a nice shot of the string oscillating over a black background that I was able to clean up and use as a mask to reveal the band’s name, illuminated in a neon style on a black background.
Animated gif of a closeup guitar string oscillating over a black background.

Process shot: the guitar string oscillating after being plucked clumsily by some graphic designer who knows nothing about playing guitar

Song Title
I wanted to achieve a scratchy, gory look for the song title, so I used an improvised tool (a sharpened coffee stirrer, if I recall correctly) to apply black ink to thin paper and recorded the process live from underneath the paper. I cleaned up the video digitally, reflected the image, and turned it into a one-color transparent video file that the editor/ director could use flexibly. As in a lot of the work I do for The Human Complex, I worked to make the product look raw and focused on real material.
Animated gif of the underside of a piece of paper while "Sectumsempra" is written with black ink on it in scratchy handwriting.

Process shot: the (reflected) video I took while creating the calligraphy for the song title

The full music video (contains somewhat violent content) 
Teaser For The New Album & Logo
This is all I can share for now! We are pursuing a new visual style, focusing on the band's sound: complex music with raw, unprocessed power. This release will build on the band's existing sound and style while modernizing and deepening the themes.
Animated gif of a C to O ligature styled as an infinity sign. The symbol is animated to glow and change, with gaps appearing and disappearing while the whole thing seems to ripple. It is bright white with blue-violet glow over a black background.
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