ALBUM COVER DESIGN

Research a well known predetermined

musician and create a NEW album cover for one of their existing albums.

It’s like Bruce Springsteen decided he HATED the cover art for Born in the USA

and instead hired you to redesign it!

This project is all about

• Composition• Imagery• Design/ Layout• Text/ typography

Process

• Pick artist/band • Research- background info• Brainstorm- Title and image concept for your

new album cover • Design• Execute

Process

1. Research Handout 25pts2. 3 Sketches (including imagery, color and text)

50pts3. Final Album Design (executed on 12”x12”

paper)

Exam Grade

1. Research the Artist

• Genre, what type of music?• Musical influences and buddies- who did they

imitate? Who else was making music with them/like them

• Most popular song/album• Find a review of this.. Read• 3 words to describe the music- adjective• Examples of 5 album covers, what type of images,

color palette, what material/media, how were they made?

2. Sketches

• Complete 3 detailed colored thumbnail sketches of your album layout. – Types of images you plan to use– Type(font) treatment)– Color palette

NO! Not allowed on your cover

• Music notes• Musical Instruments• Images of the artist/band• Drug/violence/in appropriate imagery• Silhouettes, sunsets, rainbows• Logos, symbols• Inappropriate language

A good album cover will…

• Have images drawn/shaded/painted well with value

• Use photographic references as sources• Be original and creative• Connect the art materials, color, style and font

to the style of music

Sketch examples

Album cover examples Flaming Lips

Supertramp

Pink Floyd

Coldplay

Billy Joel

Steps

1. Select musician by end of class2. Research handout3. 3 sketches4. Final work due on exam day