According to numerous articles, today, album cover artwork is important now than it has ever been. Even though we come across album cover design a lot less than we would flipping through vinyls and cd’s, we are able to see thousands of album cover designs on streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. And although they are just tiny thumbnails, believe it or not many people judge based off the album cover design wether or not the album is worth listening to or not. As a graphic designer, one of my driving principles in my work is it should always tell a story, and albums tell the artists stories. Album cover designs are what got me into graphic design and is my dream field to work in, so personally, I am a firm believer that an album cover design should visualize the album it is designed for.
Music & Design
How music and design are correlated now more than ever
By Matt Horn
Modern Music & Design
Now more than ever, album artwork carries heightened importance. In an age during which an infinite expanse of music is only a phone lock screen away, we find ourselves dwarfed. Scrolling through Spotify for something new becomes an exhaustive task, such are the many sonic possibilities, and we regret that time is not more plentiful. If we stray outside of recommended artists, it's not the sound that dictates what we listen to, but the visual component. Eight times out of ten, it's down to what we encounter through the artwork.
We may begin to narrow down the search to a particular genre or time period, but it only lessens the burden by milligrams. For the modern artist seeking exposure, the artwork is the first insight into music. We may judge by the cover, and if we're unimpressed, we may put the release back on the shelf. The visual stimulant precedes the auditory stimulant, and for a band or artist emerging onto the scene, the artwork has a bearing on their level of exposure and subsequent success. It seems a shame that it has to be that way, given that music is purely auditory. Regardless, it comes packaged, and we often need to be convinced of the package before opening it up for enjoyment. Some artists have consistently great artwork. Some artists have consistently bad artwork that becomes great via its terrible nature. Some artists opt for the more artistic, and some artists strip their artwork back for a minimalist approach, preferring their music do the convincing. Each of these brands has an appeal, and the more successful are those which manage to make use of the music in some way as well. Artwork should be exciting, should be encouraging, should serve a purpose above just packaging. I think of some of my favorite records and part of what stands out is their artwork.
Music Genres
- Pop
- R&B
- Alternative
- Country
Importance of Album Artwork
There are numerous things that technology has rendered obsolete nowadays, especially when it comes to the means of music consumption. From Walkmans to vinyls to CDs, they’re all viewed as beacons of an era that is way past us, symbols of nostalgia. Therefore, something that might be hard to realize for the people that didn’t grow up in the time when those physical mediums were still the mainstream, is the importance of the album cover. Back then album artwork not only guided how people felt about the music, but it also prepared them for what they expected to hear and in consequence, it was an integral part of how they shopped for music.
Scalability of Album Artwork
Before the Internet, music could only be purchased on a physical format, and therefore, packaging and the presentation of an album was paramount in ensuring its commercial success. Artists had a 12 by 12 inch cardboard canvas or a 4 by 4 inch plastic jewel case to embellish albums with artwork that would entice listeners to pull off a shelf to admire and ultimately buy. Nowadays, album and single covers appear as tiny squares on our music libraries and streaming sites. Yet, despite this miniaturisation, these visual aids still hold a relevance.
Music is not just an auditory experience. It’s a multi-sensory affair which triggers all kinds of feelings and emotions. When listening to music, we want to feel a certain way, to be transported to an entirely different place, and an album’s sleeve, can help to do that.
