THE ALBUM PROJECT
ALBUM PROJECT 1 - XX
This entire project was inspired by a graphic design book entitled Swissted. The book showcased music posters that were designed in the Swiss graphic design style. I decided to use XX's debut self titled album for the first edition of this. However instead of designing one CD Cover for the entire album, I decided to depict each of the albums 11 songs. The albums stripped back simplistic style best suited the Swiss style I was looking to achieve.
ALBUM PROJECT 2 - ABSOLUTION
Having been pleased with the results of the XX album, I decided to apply the same approach to one of my favourite albums. During the research process of Absolution I quickly disovered an underlying theme of political tension and biblical references. This was a theme which I tried to encapsulate when designing each song's CD Cover. To achieve this I used a mix of photo manipulation and vector drawing.
ALBUM PROJECT 3 - NEVERMIND
As famous as XX and Absolution were, Nirvana's Nevermind album was an entirely different league altogether when it comes to critical acclaim. This series was designed to commemorate the albums 25th anniversary of its release, Nevermind was by far the most challenging yet most rewarding of the 3 album recreations so far. I tried to get inside the head of Kurt Cobain regarding the interpretation of song cover, after reading different theories regarding the meanings of his songs, I feel that what I have produced communicates each songs meaning effectively.
ALBUM PROJECT 4 - DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE
To commemorate the first anniversary of David Bowie's passing, I decided to re-design 15 of his numerous hit songs from his 50+ year career. The unusual themes David Bowie explored proved to be a challenge for me to interpret but I feel like I've done the songs justice. Most of these were done using photo manipulation but there are a few designs where I created the content entirely from scratch.
ALBUM PROJECT 5 - CHESTER BENNINGTON TRIBUTE
On 20" July 2017 Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington tragically lost his battle with long term depression by taking his own life. So on the first anniversary of his death I decided to put my own interpretation on 32 of his most well known songs. Being familiar with the band. Linkin Park were renowned for experimentation within their music, something which I was keen to adhere to with each single cover. This was also the first project where I predominately created imagery in house rather than searching the internet for them.
ALBUM PROJECT 6 - MARSHALL MATHERS LP (2000)
I decided to approach Album Project 6 a bit differently by getting my friends and followers to decide on which album I should do from a shortlist of 6. After each vote was counted the chosen album was Eminem’s infamous Marshall Mathers LP. To say that Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP was not your typical hip hop album is the mother of all understatements. Whilst the theme of most hip hop albums glorify the excess that comes in the rap game, Marshall Mathers LP is part childish part homicidal and all controversial. From start to finish Eminem paints a twisted and volatile picture of the broken home he grew up in. In this album he seeks vengeance on the people that made it hell for him. I tried to reflect this in the artwork I produced.
ALBUM PROJECT 7 - HAPPIER THAN EVER
For all the previous 6 album projects l'd never taken on an LP that was released in this time period. So decided to change that for album project 7 and re designed Billie Eilish's Happier Than Ever Album. The album documents Billie's journey through the pressures of fame and the emotional trauma of breaking up with her former partner. From a design perspective i made more of a conscious effort to take my own photographs rather than just use internet images or at least make the images I did use from stock photography sites I went out of my way to make them my own.
ALBUM PROJECT 8 - BY THE WAY
Another project where I got my social media audience to vote on which album I should do next. In a very close race Red Hot Chili Peppers 2002 By The Way album won. Lyrically Speaking By The Way is about Love and different feelings and emotions that embodies. Lead singer Antony Kiedis also takes a deep dive in to his own past, reflecting on his substance abuse struggles and the journey he undertook to get clean. With all that to go on, I tried to take a more arty textured approach to each cover reflecting the ecstasy/ gritty nature to Kiedis’s writing.
ALBUM PROJECT 9 - DOOKIE
I decided to go back to doing an anniversary album for Album Project 9 as there were a few good albums hitting a major milestone in 2024. Out of the wide selection of albums on offer I chose to take on Green Day's Dookie as they were the last band I saw live at the time and remembered how awesome their show was. The album itself tackles themes the 3 band members experienced growing up, these range from, anxiety, boredom, depression, sexuality, divorce and everything in between! The original artwork had an amazing looking comic book look to it. Although I tried to differ my artwork each time, that theme of an immature response was the core concept behind each cover I made.