Designer Brodie Kaman applies his DIY ethos to posters and record sleeves

Perth-born, LA-based designer Brodie Kaman dabbled with graphic design at the tender age of 13, when he started making flyers and artwork for local bands he was a part of. “I enjoyed art from an early age but I never had the patience to achieve what I wanted with drawing. My older brother had been using Photoshop for some time, he showed me the ropes and I was hooked,” explains Brodie. “I still love using my hands, so I find myself thriving with the combination of Photoshop, a printer and a scanner.”

Brodie’s work is driven by “constant experimentation” and the artwork of the late 70s and early 80s punk movement has always been something the designer has been drawn to. “That process is something that has resonated with my work ethic,” says Brodie. “Peter Saville, Neville Brody and John Baldessari have always been influential on my work as well.”

While having no definite source of inspiration, Brodie looks to various music and film books for references and spend lots of time in bookshops and on the internet. His portfolio has an emphasis on poster work and record sleeve design and it’s the “freedom and spontaneity” Brodie enjoys most. “Music is constantly changing and progressing, so it’s only natural for the art to follow suit,” he says. “You don’t have to stagnate and repeat yourself, I find it very satisfying.”

When starting on a new project, the designer starts with type. “For me typography is the foundation and everything else is complementary. I prefer a trial and error approach with a loose end goal in mind,” he explains. “If I plan too much I feel suffocated and that comes through in the work.” There’s a layered and hand-made aesthetic to Brodie’s work, where posters are cluttered with imagery, graphics and type but still manage to communicate their message, and convey a real sense of energy and emotion. “I aim to bring an element of fun and excitement with my work, doused with a DIY ethos,” he says.