@MrsH'sArtroom: Graphic Design Album Art

ACTIVITY

For this lesson, you will create a CD booklet based upon your favorite song. The song’s lyrics will serve as an inspiration for the look and feel of your project.

ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS

•Art communicates powerful ideas and fosters an understanding of history, culture and each other.
•Art develops creative thinking and problem solving skills.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

•How/where do artists get their ideas?
•What choices do artists make?
•How does art communicate?
•Where is art in our world?
•Do artists need skills to create art?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will:

•Learn how to use Photoshop’s image selection tools in order to manipulate images.
•Learn how to add and edit type in Photoshop.
•Learn how to edit the size, color and shape of images in Photoshop.
•Learn how to correctly set up a Photoshop document by using layers.
•Locate and identify examples of how color and texture are used in CD cover design.
•Analyze song lyrics to determine the message of the song.
•Learn how to create sketches for design projects.
•Create a CD cover that incorporates a specific color palette, visual texture and a successful combination of words and images.

PROCEDURE:

Step 1: Inspiration

Begin by finding the lyrics to your favorite song. It should be a song that has personal meaning, yet also be appropriate for school. Double check for inappropriate language and themes/content that is not conducive for a school setting.

Print out two copies. One to turn into me and a smaller version that you will use in your final design.

Step 2: Color Research

Search the internet to find examples of how graphic designers have incorporated color into CD design. Find at least one example of each of the bulleted items listed below. Print out your copies and glue them into your sketchbook. Be sure to label your images with the subcategory of color, as well as cite the url where your images are originally from.

Here are the art elements that you should find examples of:

Color

• Primary
• Secondary or Complimentary
• Monochromatic Design Instruct
• Bold use of color (bright color, many colors, etc.)
• Pastels
• Primarily black and white

Step 3: Texture Research

For homework, photograph five different examples of textures from around school or your neighborhood. These should be printed out and and handed in. Here are some examples of different types of texture:

• Rough/Distressed
• Gritty
•Cracked
•Speckled
•Smooth

Save your electronic files onto your computer. You might wind up using them for your project.

Step 4: Color Palettes

Next, search the internet for examples of color palettes that you are thinking about incorporating into your design project. Here are some links to get you started:

http://www.colourlovers.com/

http://kuler.adobe.com/#

http://colorschemedesigner.com/

Find at least three different color ideas, print them out and hand them in with your name on them!

Step 5: Sketching

Now it’s time to be creative! Complete 3 detailed colored thumbnail sketches of your CD layout ideas on computer paper. Each sketch should have a front and back cover, show the types of images you are planning on using, suggest a type treatment and indicate a color palette. Your designs should be image dominant.
IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN'T DRAW- use simple shapes to represent your images and then make note of what the shapes stand for. You can still get a good design out of simple shapes.

Feeling stuck for ideas? In addition to using some of the Elements and Principles of art, here are some ways to alter a design based upon some of the Synectic Trigger Mechanisms by Nicholas Roukes.

Here is a animated short about typography:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOgIkxAfJsk

FINAL PROJECT

Once all your sketching is complete, choose your most successful sketch and try to recreate it in Photoshop. Your CD must have the following project requirements:

OUTSIDE CD JACKET

Visuals1) At least three images that have been digitally combined together on the front cover of your CD
2) Visual texture
3) A distinct color palette
4) Front cover on the right hand side of your file, back cover on the left.

Type
1) An interesting, yet readable type treatment that relates to the mood of your piece

CD Front Cover1) Name of artist or group2) Name of album

CD Back Cover
1) Bar code2) Record label logo3) Song titles4) The small print (we will go over this in class)

Inside of CD Jacket

•At least three images that have been digitally combined (Jacket only)
•Must have a visual texture
•Must have a distinct color palette
•Images match the look and feel of the outside of the CD jacket. Think fraternal twins, not identical.
•Interesting and readable type that relates to the tone of your piece, as well as your outside CD jacket.
• The complete lyrics to your song. Adding additional song lyrics is suggested, but not required. It improves the overall look of your CD (inside of CD Jacket Only)
• Name of Artist and Group (the actual CD only)