Design An Album Cover Series

Project Brief

A music company has tasked you with designing two illustrated album covers for an upcoming compilation release. The client requires that the covers show a relationship to one another as they may want to release additional albums as part of this series. Perhaps you're using a common (but noticeable) visual element in each cover or using the same layout or it could be both or more.

The connection is clear in these designs. The subject matter, theme, design style and choice of typefaces all make for cohesive covers. Designs by Sessions student Ilona Karme.

By creating two distinct but somewhat related covers, you demonstrate your ability to adhere to design standards while also letting loose your creativity—a quality that potential clients and employers will value.

These are meant to be illustrated covers, so use a mix of freeform drawing tools as well as brushes. Bear in mind that you can also use basic shapes and line shapes from Lecture 1 in these covers. If you want to make them look hand-drawn, apply brushes to the strokes or draw brush shapes within them. The imagery you evoke with these designs can range from smooth and sultry to bright and brassy—the choice is yours.

The vibrant colors, theme and similar brushes unite these covers as a series. Designs by Sessions student Valerie Aguayo.

As this is a vector basics course, you are to create your images entirely within Illustrator. If you use any pixel/raster-based imagery, you risk a reduction in grade for your assignment.

For ideas and inspiration, check out the web sites for record companies in the genre of your choice, or use Amazon.com to look up album covers. Both Spotify and iTunes feature covers to look over. Another good spot is the reviews section of Pitchfork.com.

A space theme, similar look and angled bar create cohesion in these cover designs. While a little tough to see, brushes are used to create pinpoint stars in the background as well as around the rocket's engine exhaust. Designs by Sessions student Kevin Enge.

Text in your covers isn't necessary as typography isn't discussed until Lecture 5. If, however, you wish to make the album titles and integral part of your covers or simply feel the covers are lacking, skip ahead to Lecture 5 for an overview.

EXAMPLES

Need to refresh your memory on freeform drawing (and the inevitable erasing) in Illustrator? Check out this Review Kit:

Questions?

If you have questions before uploading your work for grading, use the Inbox feature to get in touch with your instructor.

Creating Your File

When you're ready to start working in Illustrator, create a new document (File > New) that uses pixel as the unit of measurement. For width and height, use 700 px. As you'll be designing two covers, set the number of Artboards to 2. Be sure to name your file here or when you save it.

Important: In all Sessions courses, plagiarism is not tolerated. Plagiarism is the act of taking someone else's work and passing it off as your own even if it's only part of a larger design you are working on. Your ideas, inspiration, and creativity should be the primary focus of your work.

You are free to take inspiration from the work of others and create a design based off of that but copying directly from another source or designer is strictly prohibited. It should be understood that any plagiarized work will receive a grade of zero and you may be subject to disciplinary action as detailed in the Student Handbook.

Please consult with your advisor if you have any questions as to what constitutes plagiarism.

Checklist

Grading Criteria

What your instructor is looking for:

• Create two distinct album cover designs based on the genre(s) of your choice. Tie them together as a series in a noticeable way.
• Use specialized selection techniques, drawing aids, and layers for the construction of each album design.
• Use at least one freeform drawing tool and at least one of the brush types discussed in the Lecture.
• Provide brief comments on how you approached this project. What tools did you make use of? Did you use brushes provided in Illustrator or did you find some from the Internet? Did you have a favorite go-to tool for this project?
• Save your work in the PNG file format (see below).
Note: You are welcome to modify and resubmit your work up to two times after initial review.

Posting Directions

• If you've yet to do so, save your file by going to File > Save or use the keyboard shortcut keys of Command (Mac) / Ctrl (Windows) + S. In the panel that appears, name your file and choose Adobe Illustrator (ai) from the Format menu. Click Save. This ensures you will always have an editable Illustrator file on hand in the event you wish to make modifications.
• When ready to upload your work to Sessions, choose File > Export > Export As. Name your file and choose PNG (png) from the Format menu. Since you have artwork on multiple artboards, enable Use Artboards. Click Export.
• In the panel that follows, set the Resolution menu to Medium (150 ppi). Change the Background Color to White. Click OK.
• Go to the Exercise 2 Dropbox and attach your PNG files with brief comments on how you approached this project. File uploads without comments are subject to automatic reduction in grade.

If you have a question before sending your completed exercise for grading, send a message through Canvas to contact your instructor.

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I look forward to seeing your work!