The document discusses the process of designing alternative album artwork, including the front, inside, and back covers. It explores the styles and conventions of alternative album covers, such as minimalist and illustrated designs featuring a central piece of art. The designers aimed to create a cohesive design across the covers with a quirky bear illustration as the theme. Research on existing alternative albums informed the design process to result in a cover that reflects the genre while including typical elements like track listings and barcodes.

2. During the process, we were developing our ideas and choosing what style to go in. In particular when looking at existing
examples of alternative front covers a lot were of the minimalistic and illustrated style. What I really love about these covers
is how there is one interesting piece of art which centres the entire cover. We wanted to mirror the composition and have a
piece of art which draws he audiences attention to the imagery.

3. The freedom with music videos is very much similar to the freedom with CD covers. I have previously discussed how artists
have used aspects in their videos to provoke a response and create attention around their music video, and the same goes
for album covers. Over time, album covers have become almost the branding for the artist’s music. The image is shown
across advertisements or posters – so that the artist can create an identity for themselves. Although some covers can be
very safe and simple, many serve to create controversy which will provoke a response from the public.

4. We conformed to the
illustrative style, by
illustrating a bear using
Photoshop. This also
works to create a
certain theme or
imagery which album
covers commonly do.
We featured the artist
name and album on the
front cover, ensure that
people are aware of
who the artist is.
We followed the
conventions of a more
minimalistic front cover,
where the composition
features a piece of art at
the centre. This is
particularly conventional
in alternative album
covers.
Alternative album
covers, are typically
very authentic and
quirky. We hope that
the bear design is
something slightly more
new and interesting.

5. During the research process I was so inspired by all these different cd and inside cover art. We decided
that focusing and researching into the alternative genre’s albums would give us a clearer picture of the
type of style we should go in. From this, we found that most of them have something more original and
quirky to them – and the style that stood out to us the most was the illustrative!

6. For the inside cover, we wanted
to take inspiration from our
front cover, but put a twist on it.
Our idea began with the concept
of leaves and waves. I drew up
an illustrated outline and began
playing around with it on
Photoshop.
Many inside covers in the media,
are very simplistic but bring
everything together and that is
what we wanted to do. The map
in the background of the outline
works to serve as the colours for
the inside cover.

7. We were mostly inspired by
Bombay Bicycle clubs CD. I
love the detail that has
gone into the design and
the beautiful colour choices
enhance the artists genre
and style of music. We
featured more earthy tones
but kept the concept of an
intricate design.
I was inspired by the colour
choices in Bruno Mars CD
art. I also love the simplicity
to it, which we reflected in
our own.

8. When researching into different back
covers, a common theme was that they
were very minimal and focused more on the
information rather than the design. Placing
the barcode and company logo allows the
cover to look far more professional.
They also feature the tracks on the album
and any other extra features which might be
on the deluxe version. Another convention
is that it usually is very cohesive with the
rest of the digipack.

9. For our back cover I followed the convention of
keeping the design minimal but ensuring that all the
information was there. The barcode and the logo I
think makes it appear more authentic and professional.
Also we featured the tracks on the album with the
same font that we used on the front cover. I was
mostly inspired by the Foals cover for Antidotes.