Shawn Mendes Career Map: Icon Design
graphic design project with icons for key songs throughout singer Shawn Mendes’ career
Concept Development, Sketching, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
map project for VISA 0150: Digital 2D Foundations
project duration: 2 weeks
Project Purpose
Shawn Mendes was my Spotify top artist for 2018 & 2019, with 87 hours & 100 hours streamed, respectively. For my course, the project was to create a map of any kind, and I designed a map of Shawn Mendes’ career, capturing my favorite songs in my own visual melody. Through these icons, even someone who hasn’t listened to the artist can have a feel for his songs.
Icon Breakdown
Never Be Alone
“when you fall asleep tonight, just remember that we lay under the same stars.”
Roses
“but I got you this rose, and I need to know: Will you let it die or let it grow?”
Fallin’ All in You
“sunrise with you on my chest…be my summer in a winter day, love.”
When You’re Ready
“even ten years from now, if you haven’t found somebody I promise I’ll be around.”
A Little Too Much
“sometimes it all gets a little too much, but you got to realize that soon the fog will clear up.”
Ruin
“I’m not tryna ruin your happiness, but, darling, don’t you know that I’m the only one for you?”
Lost In Japan
“I’m a couple hundred miles from Japan, and I was thinking I could fly to your hotel tonight.”
Wonder
“I wonder, when I cry into my hands, I’m conditioned to feel like it makes me less of a man.”
Guitar
Mendes’ forearm tattoo, stylized. The neck of the guitar is the skyline of Toronto, his hometown, and a voice recording of his parents saying “I love you.” It represents his hometown, his parents, and his love for music, making it the perfect foundation to map out his career.
Peer Reviews
“I really enjoy the aesthetic of this piece, and could TOTALLY see him posting this on his website or making merch out of it. I can tell a lot of thought was put into making this piece and the details are crisp!”
“I really love how [the icons] are composed of flat shapes, yet you’re able to create so much depth within each one. I don’t know a lot about Shawn Mendes’ songs, but you give enough information within your piece to make it clear what it’s about. It’s soooo good!”
