Article on About.com - Cover art Design

Cover Art Designer - Graphic Design Specialization:

A cover art designer is really simply a graphic designer who happens to focus on music related projects. Often, designers who work on cover art and liner notes also dabble in designing posters, t-shirts and other merch for the artists with whom they work, although not all do. The extent of a designer's input into the finished album artwork and liner notes can vary greatly from job to job, depending on what the musicians and/or label wants.

Typical Responsibilities:

The person hiring the designer determines the extent of the work that needs to be done on each individual project. Sometimes, a label or the musicians will have a very specific idea of what they want on their album cover - they may have a photo or design in mind and they may have predetermined everything from font to color. In this case, the designer is in charge of laying out the band/label's vision and putting it into the proper format to be delivered for manufacturing.

In other cases, the designer may be asked to come up with a design from scratch and then will work with the band/label to settle on a final draft.

Finding a Job:

Many designers who work on album cover art work on a freelance basis and are hired on a per-project basis. If you want to work as a freelance designer, you may find you have to start out designing a few album covers for free to build up a portfolio of work. Once you get started, if people are pleased with what you're producing, then you will likely find that most of your work comes to you through referrals.

Not all designers are freelancers, however, and some record labels have graphic designers on staff to handle these responsibilities in-house.

Training in Cover Art Design:

Education in graphic design is the usual path into designing album cover art. You need familiarity with graphic design software programs and the basics of design. You'll also need to learn how to communicate properly with printers about colors, paper, and other facets of your final design so that the printing comes out as everyone envisioned it. Obviously, you need some creative ability and familiarity with music is a must - most genres have a typical "feel" for the find of cover art they use, and you should be able to listen to music and come up with a design that compliments it.

Making Money Designing Album Cover Art:

Unlike some other jobs in music, pay for designers doesn't change depending on how many copies an album sells. That can be a good thing AND a bad thing. Unless you are a designer on staff at a label, you will be working on a per-campaign basis, charging one flat fee for your work. As you get started, you will likely have to do a few jobs for free to get a foot in the door. The exact pay varies wildly depending on the kinds of labels and artist you work with, and as you work, you'll get a feel for the going rate in your sphere. You can charge different rates depending on the amount of work involved.

Learn More About Record Packaging:

The right packaging can add a lot to a record or CD, but many labels have to make some hard choices between really cool packaging and being able to pay the bills. Learn more about different packaging options here:

Musings over design for the music industry.

Following some of the recent sessions we have attended, a lot of thought of mine has gone towards what I actually want to do with my life as a graphic designer after I leave college. Its a big world out there for us... so many options and so many different areas, print, web, motion to name just a few.

Since coming to the conclusion that I wanted to do graphic design at university after having a completely fine art background all the way through school, I've always wanted to work in the music industry as a designer, but never really explored it as an actual career, I saw it more as a hobby I guess.

But since looking more into it, it turns out I was completely wrong. Now my task is to look into different designers and companies which do focus on the music industry.

Do not get me wrong, I am not in any way saying that I want to pigeon-hole myself into just designing for music, but it is definitely something that would be my dream to actually make a career out of. 

The scope is wide, from flyers, posters, album covers... to merchandise, advertising campaigns, promotions. Everything about all of this fascinates me and always has as I have been around musicians and their surroundings for a long time and, in my own way, want to play my part. 

Evaluation of OUGD201

This module has been all about print and different print processes which I think I overlooked slightly in my design process. However, this is the module where I feel I have learned the most. We have been filled with facts about printing, in all different areas, which will be incredibly useful when we proceed on into the industry.

Lorenzo’s seminars about actual print processes were fascinating and I learned things that I’ve never even considered before. It has opened so many new doors into the graphic design world and opportunities to use this knowledge for print-based work. The seminars really got me thinking, and has got me trying to figure out how things were printed, from birthday cards, to posters and flyers in every day life. Which I feel doing a course you love is all about.

The mac suite inductions were really useful when it came to resolving my ideas and actually designing. I feel I now have a solid knowledge of colour palettes and learning how to use swatches has been incredibly beneficial, especially with my posters and using different colours for each one (including the logo). Again, I feel that I have really learned something this module when it comes to software.

The type lessons were also interesting, learning little bits about things which, in the end, seem to be common sense. I’ve never really seen type as something I am particularly interested in, but now I see the possibilities which type open. I used what I learned in my poster designs, playing around with different positioning of letters, weight and orientation to add emphasis to certain words.

All in all, I do feel that this has been my favourite module to date and the most useful. I really feel that I have a much wider knowledge than when I went into it, knowledge that I can actually use and I have put everything that I have learned in the past few months into my “what is good” resolution… and the working up to them.

Looking back over the module, I am disappointed in the small amount of work that I have produced. However, I do feel that it could be some of my best work to date. For once, I actually like what I am producing, and the self-written brief really opened doors for me.
I really wish that personal issues hadn’t affected me in any way when it came to college work, how ever, these things happen and cannot be helped. I am happy that I have made contact with the course team and that they understand what has gone on. If I had more time with this module I would have furthered my product range, branching out from posters to packaging, and maybe a range of t-shirts.

I do feel that I have worked a lot harder than I did last year and truly feel I have matured in my attitude towards college. I have kept up with my blogs a lot more successfully than I have done in the past and have explored a wide range of ideas in response to my brief. I do feel this might have had an impact on the amount of work I produced as a resolution how ever as the mine-field that is my head seemed to go in all directions with this project, with about 5 different ‘final’ ideas emerging on my blog. But that is graphic design. 

What I want to achieve...

What do you want to achieve by the end of this year?

-I want to have a better idea of what area I want to work in within the industry.

-I want to develop and identify my own personal style.

-I want to set up research visits and work placements/internships for the summer.

-I want to network and set up an address book of contacts who may help me throughout my time at LCA and in my career. 

-I want to gain the confidence to ask for help from these contacts.

-I want to have a much better idea of the industry I will work in. 

-I want to explore different companies and the way they function... the work ethic, the employees and the difference between working for a large company and being a freelance designer.
-I want to manage my time better, no all nighters the night before deadlines.
-I want my work ethic to drastically improve.
-I want to make the most of my time in Leeds, the city and all that is available. 

What do you want to achieve by the end of the course?

-I want to know exactly who I am as a designer. 

-I want to have an extensive knowledge of the graphic design industry. 

- I want to have a number of different placements and internships under my belt so I have a proper idea of what I want to do and where I want to do it. 

-I want to know about all the jobs available in the industry.

-I want an impressive portfolio.

-I want to have a job lined up.

What do you want to achieve in your career?

- I want to be recognised and remembered for my work.

-At some point I would like to work abroad... particularly in New York.

-I want an exciting job, where no two days are the same.

END OF LEVEL 04, BEGINNING OF LEVEL 05

Seminar with Bridget - Costings

Mazlow's heirarchy of need

• Physiological needs
• Safety and security needs
• Love and belonging needs
• Esteem needs
• Self-actualisation needs
• Travel and personal needs

Costing sheet

Lecture 1 - What is marketing? Notes