Final Design idea

Evaluation

During this project I have created a band name, band identity, tour poster, album cover and album packaging. In order to create these final designs I spent a lot of time carrying out initial research into a number of decades and existing albums.

To start with I used my initial research to create a number of mind maps and moodboards, I used these plan out what works in an album cover and why it works. I then reviewed these mind maps and moodboards in order to create my 6 initial ideas, this is a wide range of different ideas spreading across a number of different genres. Along with my six initial design ideas I also looked a several different ideas for packaging as this can be crucial to an attractive album. Once my initial ideas and packaging ideas were complete I began to carry put some ideas into photoshop and draw some out so I could be sure the packaging would work successfully,

The initial idea I decided to carry on with was for hip/hop group Steady Dollar, this design featured a clever contrast between how live performance were view in the past and how they are viewed in the present, this initial idea was somewhat inspired by Eminem's curtain call album. I began creating my initial idea in Photoshop and once this was finished I began experimenting with my design in order to create the most attractive and interesting final design.

Finally, I am very happy with my final album design because I have developed upon it well in order to create an attractive poster to all. The main example of my development on the initial design is the use of elements from modern music events e.g. flames and smoke. My initial idea was to use scenes from a traditional theatre in order to create a somewhat timeless appeal, I have also used the font Broadway to create this traditional image. I also wanted to make my design look completely unique to other hip hop album covers and I believe I achieved this well. I believe by combining this timeless imagery with more modern elements of live music I have made my album cover appealing to a large group of people, because the timeless appeal makes the album more appealing to older people however the use of more modern features such as smoke and flames makes the album cover appealing to the younger generation as well. Also, Steady Dollar plays Hip-Hop music and this is one of the most popular genres in the world, therefore Steady Dollar will be appealing to a larger group of people.

Album template

Inside

The inside of my album cover features two sections on either side, these two sections can be used to fold over the larger middle section and once these have been folded over you will then be able to see the outside of the album cover. 

I have also included a third section in the middle of the inside of my album cover, this middle section folds upwards in between the two sections on either side. The middle section also has two tabs on either side that stick down on the inside of the album cover, once these tabs have been stuck down this section will act as a pocket in the middle of the inside of the album cover, I will use this pocket to carry my booklet and I will use a cut out in the front of this section to hold the CD in place. This middle section will also feature the imagery for the middle section of the inside of my album cover, you can see this imagery on the bottom section of the outside of my album cover. 

Outside

The outside of my album cover features three sections and a bottom section that will fold upwards and stick down. The two sections on either side fold inwards to create the front image, this front image is of the outside of a classic theatre with the band name Steady Dollar in a Broadway font featuring heavily. The back of my album cover features closed curtains and this promotes the fact that the show is over once you get to the back of the album cover.

Mid Project Review

At the mid-point of this project I believe I have created 6 strong initial ideas that would work well as an album cover, I have also thought about two different band names that would be popular amongst certain target audiences. I believe I have selected the right initial idea because it has been inspired by a very successful album, Eminem's Curtain Call, also I believe the contrast between modern and traditional elements will be very popular amongst a wide target audience. My band Steady Dollar will play music from the Hip Hop Genre mainly as this is one of the most popular music genres across the world and therefore Steady Dollar will have a large fan base. I look forward to experimenting with my album cover further in order to create a real contrast between traditional and modern concrete experiences.

Hue and Contrast

I began experimenting with a picture of a Honey Badger because animals can be inspiring for artists and a Honey Badger is a specifically interesting animal.

I experimented with the Hue and Contrast on Photoshop in order to make it look as if the badger is walking through a red field. Honey Badger's have a reputation for being vicious and aggressive and this is why I have made field red as if to look like he is walking through blood. 

My final experimentation with this image was to initially make the field a toxic green colour, I then added two skull and crossbones to make it look as if the Badger itself is toxic. I have also written beware in order to enforce the fact that this Badger is dangerous and therefore you must stay away.  

My main idea with this design was to make the image look like a retro video game like Tekken for example. I have used the Hue and Contrast to turn the image into a dull black and white as this attracts attention towards the health bar I have included at the top of the page. Finally, I added the names of the animals into these health bars to reinforce the fact that these two animals are fighting. 

Christophe Szpadjel- Artist Study

Christophe Szpadjel is a Plymouth based logo designer who specialises in logos for metal bands. Szpadjel or the 'Lord of the Logos' has designed a number of logos but I have picked out these two to analyse. Szpadjel designed the logo for experimental black metal band Nutrition, Szpadjel has used bold, straight, glimmering lines in the background of the logo to reflect the genre, I believe the shimmering line looks like metal reflecting light. Szpadjel continues to use these glimmers on the band name along withe bolt holes in the letters to make it look almost metalic. I believe Szpadjel has reflected the name nutrition well because all of the lines leading into the band name almost make it seems like they are giving nutrition, a lot like the roots of a tree.  

Szpadjel also designed the logo for Black Metal band To Storm The Fortress. The first thing we see with this logo design is the obvious outline of a fortress in the background with the band name in the foreground, I believe the imagery of the fortress represents the genre well because when you think about a fortress the main words that come to mind would be strong, hard, tough and I believe these words can also be used to represent Death Metal as a genre. Szpadjel has also managed to incorporate the band name 'To Storm The Fortress' within the fortress itself and this adds to the impact of the design.  

Experimental Album Designs

I have spent a considerable amount of time experimenting with my chosen initial idea of an old fashioned theatre. The first design shows how I would like the front cover of my album to look like, as I have added a list of tracks and the name of the band to a traditional box office scene. 

Through me experimentation I have tried to add a touch of modernity to this classic scene, the two designs above feature elements of a modern gig such as the fire, the lazerlight and the smokescreen. I believe by combining the traditional venue with the more modern elements of a gig I have created a powerful image.