Nostromo Tattoo Studio
Nostromo Tattoo Studio is a private shop in Pontiac, Michigan.
Named after Ridley Scott’s ill-fated spaceship, Nostromo Tattoo Studio is dedicated to servicing people in a safe and energizing environment. Founded by magical being Kyle Evans, they wanted the identity to radiate light, creativity, and absurdity. We paired that with our mutual love for sci-fi, and leaned into an system that felt uncomfortably optimistic to the point of dystopian. I built out a brand system that feels accessible and uneasy, with a motion system based on 1980s interfaces and traditional animation methodology.
2023
Motion
In developing the logo, we noticed a theme in Kyle’s personal work that always presented as a smiley face, and while we wanted the space to feel like a warm and inviting environment, we wanted to give it a face that might not be fully trusted — after all, all of our favorite movies had corrupted AI.
To design Nostromo’s website, I took cues from all the material we had been looking at: old Ridley Scott sets, weird dystopian technology, and—especially— monochromatic CRT screens. We leaned into the aesthetic, showing blown out versions of the smiley, and incorporating low frame rate animation as a focal point.
Nostromo Tattoo Studio is a beacon in the community, continuously building a rapport with everyone that walks through the door. We managed to put together a suite of materials, from printed invitations to merch and signage, that people can rally behind.
To celebrate their 3rd anniversary, I made an analog promotional video from printed thermal images, scanned back in, and sequenced. Check it out below:
To celebrate their 3rd anniversary, I made an analog promotional video from printed thermal images, scanned back in, and sequenced. Check it out below: