In your first assignment you are supposed to prepare an album cover design using Adobe Photoshop alongside a CD sticker and a research paper.
A list of songs is provided and you are supposed to choose a song from the list. The songs on the list are associated with several contemporary art and design movements. You are expected to interrogate these movements in refining your work on style. The song and the associated movement will be your guide in dealing with the problems of composition, color, visual balance and harmony.
The songs and the associated movements are as follows:
Surrealism
Beatles Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
Beatles I’m the Walrus
Beatles Strawberry Fields
Minimalism
Philip Glass The Kiss
Tangerine Dream Love on a Real Train
Pink Floyd Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
Pop Art
Michael Jackson Live Me Alone
Kylie Minogue Confide in Me
Lady Gaga Telephone
Punk
Sex Pistols Anarchy in UK
Victims Television Addict
Chicks on Speed feat. Peaches We Don’t Play Guitars
The list above does not assume that the artists or groups were directly associated with that specific movement. Yet their works can be considered within the context of these styles.
The Work Process
Step 1: Research
What you will do in the first place is to choose a song from the list. Then you are supposed to follow the lectures on the associated contemporary art or design movement. In the lectures a short history of the movement and the fundamental elements of style in these movements will be explained. Additional information and readings will be uploaded on the course blog. You are supposed to deepen your understanding of the visual style of your choice through further research.
Step 2: Conceptualization
In this step you are ready to bring together what you have gathered so far. You will collect the images you will work with, you will develop an idea about the typographical style, composition and color palette of your work.
Step 3: Preparation
You will prepare your posters using Adobe Photoshop. So far you have learned to how to use tools, how to modify and transform your images, how to use filters, different layer styles and layer blending modes. It is now time to put them altogether. Try to achieve something within the limits of your current Photoshop using abilities. You will get constant feedback during this phase in the studio classes.
Step 4: Presentation
You will present your work in the desired format on the specified deadline.
In the following part we addressed several general questions you may have about the assignment.
Q: I have chosen my song and the visual style I want to work on. Should I follow the other lectures on visual art movements?
A: Yes. The lectures are organized in a progressive fashion. The questions of balance, space, composition and color will be covered in all lectures. Different styles will be compared and contrasted to address your practical questions. So, please do follow all the lectures.
Q: I did not like any of the songs on the list. Can I choose another one?
A: The songs are chosen to fulfill a definite purpose. Not all of them are directly related with the visual style under which they are categorized; yet they can be conceived together. Sticking with the choices on the list will help you to avoid dealing with more complex design problems. Choosing a different song may make your job harder since you might be expected to do your research on your own. If you are insistent on choosing a different song please see your instructor.
Q: The examples you have shown to demonstrate the visual styles in question are very much complex and with my current Adobe Photoshop abilities I can’t do the same. What should I do?
A: You are not expected to copy a work or do the same. You are expected to understand the basic dynamics of each style. Your work will be in line with that style it won’t be a exact demonstration of it. This is a good place to start for a designer since referencing your work to an established movement will help to spur your creativity. As the process develops you will find your own voice.
Technical Requirements
1. Use your photograph/s
You are supposed to use one of the photographs you have taken in your assignment. The aim is to test your photograph manipulation abilities on Adobe Photoshop. The photograph might be the basis of your final design or you may choose to position your photograph to a secondary position in your composition. It’s up to you.
Work size
Since you are preparing an album cover your final design should fit on to a CD case. Measure the dimensions of the CD case you will prepare and set your work size on Adobe Photoshop accordingly.
Presentation
With this assignment you are supposed to hand in three items:
- Album cover (fitting in front of the CD case)
- Album CD with a sticker on it (only the song you have chosen should be burned on the CD) You do not have to design your CD sticker separately. You may use some part of your design in the album cover. Yet your CD should have a sticker on it.
- Research document: This document will be in the essay format (min. 250 max. 500 words) In your research paper you will explain how did you tackle with the design problems your have faced. How did you set the composition, decide on color palette, choose your photography and so on.
Deadlines
You are supposed to submit your work within the last week of April in your registered class hour. Deadline will not be extended.
