# 2 Tone Graphics

> The visual identity of 2 Tone Records: a black-and-white checkerboard, taken by Jerry Dammers from an old mod pop-art motif, and a cartoon mascot, Walt Jabsco, a rude boy in suit and pork-pie hat based on a photograph of the Jamaican singer Peter Tosh. Devised by Dammers with Horace Panter, and worked up into artwork by John 'Teflon' Sims and David Storey, it turned punk-era DIY into a controlled, repeatable system and revived the dress of 1960s Jamaican ska and mod. It descends from op art through the check; the DIY spirit of punk is an influence, not the parent.

- Period: 1979–1986
- Where: Western Europe
- Origin: Coventry, England: 2 Tone Records, founded in 1979 by Jerry Dammers of the Specials with Chrysalis backing
- Branch: Counterculture
- Also known as: 2 Tone, Two Tone sleeve design, Walt Jabsco look, Coventry ska graphics
- Page: https://stylogeny.com/styles/two-tone-graphics/

## How it works

- Reduce every release to a high-contrast black and white.
- Repeat one mascot and one checkerboard on every sleeve and label so the series reads as a brand.
- Draw the figure as a flat, simplified silhouette in suit, hat and loafers.
- Use the checkerboard as border, ground and trim to make a pattern into an emblem.
- Borrow the dress and attitude of 1960s ska and mod, and set it with bold, plain lettering.

## Its design choices

Defining choices make the style, characteristic ones are usual, occasional ones turn up now and then.

### Layout & composition
- [Isolated object](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/isolated-object/) (characteristic)
- [Central symmetry](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/central-symmetry/) (occasional)
- [Framed panels](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/framed-panels/) (occasional)

### Space & hierarchy
- [Single focal point](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/single-focal-point/) (defining)
- [Repetition & rhythm](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/repetition-and-rhythm/) (characteristic)
- [Measured density](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/measured-density/) (characteristic)
- [Visual tension](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/visual-tension/) (occasional)

### Typography
- [Grotesque & neo-grotesque](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/grotesque-and-neo-grotesque/) (characteristic)
- [All caps](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/all-caps/) (characteristic)
- [Condensed display](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/condensed-display/) (occasional)

### Colour
- [Monochrome](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/monochrome/) (defining)
- [Flat fields](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/flat-fields/) (defining)
- [Limited spot colours](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/limited-spot-colours/) (characteristic)
- [Light ground](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/light-ground/) (occasional)

### Form & shape
- [Optical pattern](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/optical-pattern/) (defining)
- [Stylised figuration](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/stylised-figuration/) (defining)
- [Rectilinear](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/rectilinear/) (characteristic)
- [Geometric primitives](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/geometric-primitives/) (occasional)

### Surface & texture
- [Flat](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/flat/) (defining)
- [Halftone & Ben-Day dots](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/halftone-and-ben-day-dots/) (occasional)

### Ornament
- [Geometric tessellation](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/geometric-tessellation/) (defining)
- [Emblems & badges](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/emblems-and-badges/) (occasional)
- [Borders & frames](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/borders-and-frames/) (occasional)

### Imagery
- [Pattern & repeat](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/pattern-and-repeat/) (characteristic)
- [Flat vector illustration](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/flat-vector-illustration/) (occasional)
- [Line illustration](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/line-illustration/) (occasional)
- [Straight photography](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/straight-photography/) (occasional)

### Medium & production
- [Offset printing](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/offset-printing/) (characteristic)
- [Screen printing](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/screen-printing/) (occasional)
- [Pen, brush & ink](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/pen-brush-and-ink/) (occasional)

### Tone & intent
- [Nostalgic & retro](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/nostalgic-and-retro/) (characteristic)
- [Rebellious & subversive](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/rebellious-and-subversive/) (characteristic)
- [Playful & witty](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/playful-and-witty/) (characteristic)
- [Communal & popular](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/communal-and-popular/) (characteristic)
- [Ironic & self-aware](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/ironic-and-self-aware/) (occasional)

Avoids: Collage & layering, Horror vacui, Photocopy & distress, Photocopy & zine, Eclectic mixing, Experimental & distorted, Fluorescent & neon, Abundant decoration, Floral & vegetal

Palette: #111111, #f5f5f0, #7a7a7a, #d9d9d4

Typefaces: Helvetica Inserat (2 Tone logotype), Bold grotesque sans capitals

Known for: Walt Jabsco logo (2 Tone Records, 1979); 2 Tone logotype: large '2' above 'Tone' in Helvetica Inserat (Horace Panter); TT1/TT2 split single: The Special AKA 'Gangsters' and The Selecter (1979); The Specials, 'A Message to You Rudy' (CHS TT5)

## Where it comes from, and what it’s close to

- Grew out of: [Op Art Graphics](https://stylogeny.com/styles/op-art.md) (1960–1975)
- Influenced by: [Punk & DIY Zine](https://stylogeny.com/styles/punk-diy.md) (1976–1986)
- Influenced by: [Post-Punk Record Sleeve (Stiff, Factory, 4AD)](https://stylogeny.com/styles/post-punk-sleeve.md) (1977–1990)
- Alike in its design choices: [Lotería Card Imagery (Mexican Lotería)](https://stylogeny.com/styles/loteria.md) (1887–present), 61% alike
- Alike in its design choices: [Finnish Symbol Poster (the 'Finnish School', 1954–1995)](https://stylogeny.com/styles/finnish-school-poster.md) (1954–1995), 59% alike
- Alike in its design choices: [Cuban Revolutionary Poster (OSPAAAL & ICAIC)](https://stylogeny.com/styles/cuban-poster.md) (1960–1990), 57% alike
- Alike in its design choices: [Turkish Modernist Poster & Graphic Design](https://stylogeny.com/styles/turkish-modernist-graphics.md) (1959–2000), 57% alike
- Alike in its design choices: [See Red Women's Workshop Feminist Screenprints](https://stylogeny.com/styles/see-red-womens-workshop.md) (1974–1990), 57% alike
- Alike in its design choices: [Hype Streetwear Graphics (Box Logo to Quotation Marks)](https://stylogeny.com/styles/hype-streetwear-graphics.md) (1993–present), 56% alike

## Sources

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Tone_Records
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Jabsco
- https://www.creativereview.co.uk/2-tone-records/

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From Stylogeny (https://stylogeny.com/), an atlas of graphic-design styles by Van Riel Online Services. How it is made: https://stylogeny.com/about/. Cite as: Stylogeny, “2 Tone Graphics”, https://stylogeny.com/styles/two-tone-graphics/