This production schedule outlines a 9 week timeline for creating album artwork for two fictional albums, "Lunar Sea" and "Archipelago." In the first 3 weeks, the student will develop initial designs, illustrations, and mood boards. They will then focus on completing the artwork for "Lunar Sea" through week 5, drawing an astronaut and finishing the cover design. In weeks 6-7, they will produce the gatefold artwork for the concept album "Archipelago." Additional ideas are also proposed, including replicating Rorschach inkblots or an action painting style cover.

1. Production Planning
Final Major Project

2. ARTWORK
IDEAS
This design will be an illustration of the
Apollo astronaut. It will relate to the
album name 'Lunar Sea' I have chosen. I
have used a Photoshop filter over this
image so that I can gain an idea of what
the album cover will resemble. I really
like the idea of having the mask
replaced with a globe, creating a much
more surreal image.
This design was a test of the border
design that I have seen used many
times on existing covers. I have titled it
slightly to see the results. It gives a
polaroid photo appearance. If my album
was called 'Paradise' I may use this.
This was a concept I created to gain
experience with the skew and
perspective tools within Photoshop. The
chess board in a maroon void is
something that I think would appear in
one of Pilar Zeta's surrealist works.
For the album 'Archipelago' I created
this piece. The rendered shapes work
well to give it a cartoon like look which I
believe could be transformed into an
album cover with the correct font. I am
not sure it would fit the indie theme
with it looking more like a hip-hop
album cover due to its bold colours and
striking appearance.
This is the second design for
Archipelago. This uses the graffiti
theme. I really liked the outline of the
island against the colours, however I
redesigned it and chose to lay an
existing image upon a less chaotic
backdrop. The image is much calmer
and the island is much more
distinguishable.
This design was made using the shapes
inside Photoshop and I am pleased with
the results. I think the pattern is in the
style of disco or house music so it would
not fit for my fictional band. I then
redesigned it using the colour spectrum
and added a spin. However, this further
accentuates the feeling of it being from
the dance genre of music.

3. PRODUCTION
FINAL PRODUCT
Gatefold LP Cover
Additional Artwork
CD Case
CD Case
Additional Artwork
Standard LP Cover
ALBUM A ALBUM B

4. ARCHIPELAGO
PRODUCTION
Gatefold Front Cover Interior Page AGatefold Back Cover Interior Page B
Additional Artwork Additional Artwork
CD Case

5. ARCHIPELAGO
MOODBOARD

6. The first album, the gatefold LP will be called ‘Archipelago.’ Inspired by Coldplay’s album Mylo Xyloto, I will depict a tale of revolution against an oppressive regime. It will
therefore be a concept album and carry the theme throughout. The significance of the islands is that these are the places of refuge that the enemies of the state have
found. It relates to the graffiti artwork that was used during time of great struggle and how beauty prevailed even in those times. In a similar way, the natural beauty of the
islands are juxtaposed with the imminent threat of discovery and re-oppression. Although I am not producing songs this theme will be seen throughout the artwork.
Relating to the name, I will base the art around images of islands. A mock up of the front cover can be seen, showing an island cast against a darkening sky before a vast
blue sea. In my sketch another design for an artwork shows two people struggling to douse a fire as they view an adjacent island being searched, having been discovered;
this will be the inside pages of the gatefold.
The graffiti art will be created digitally as it was during my experimentation. I discovered a way of creating authentic-looking graffiti art which I will continuing during
production. I will use my own photography for the wall upon which I will draw as it increase the quality of the artwork. I have a number of locations I can use. For elements
such as the island I will draw or sketch these parts and scan them in. This will allow me to use a graphics tablet and trace over the lines or use them as guidelines. This will
produce a much higher quality image. I will perform similar techniques for the rest of the artwork.
The outline of the island is something that will change once production begins. Although the effect looks appealing and suits the aesthetic I would rather an effect such as
the one used on the album cover as shown at the far right.
ARCHIPELAGO
ARTWORK

7. LUNAR SEA
PRODUCTION
Front CoverBack Cover
Additional Artwork Additional Artwork
CD Case

8. LUNAR SEA
MOODBOARD

9. LUNAR SEA
CONCEPT
This album will be a regular LP unlike the concept album. The artwork will be based around the Apollo 11 landing as this is something that I have great admiration and a
deep interest in. The photographs from the moon are iconic, much like Liberty Leading the People on Coldplay’s Viva La Vida cover. I enjoy the play on the word ‘lunacy’
that is used in the title.
This design may change over time but at the moment I am very pleased with the way in which both photographs are framed. I will be recreating both of these images as I
draw them in Photoshop. This is to pay homage to Delacroix’s painting on VLV but also as a tribute to the hours spent in order to send three people to land on the surface
of the moon.
I have used a random word generator to get the song names however the format is unlikely to change as the minimalist look fits perfectly with the powerful imagery. I
particularly like the text on the cover following the sloping lines due to the canted angle.
I will present the work much like this, using photographs of the printed media to display the tangible aspect of the product. This way it produces more a nostalgic and
appealing sensation to the fans of the band which remember the band’s first pressing of the album. I also think it brings an interesting dynamic into the display of the work
by having them tangible objects.

10. EXTRA ALBUMS
ADDITIONAL IDEAS
In the unlikely event that I finish both the standard and gatefold LP and their additional artwork I would like to explore more ideas. I have some secondary ideas that I
would like to produce. These are inspired by works of art or existing albums that I particularly like. To create these extra artworks would extend my range of music within
the band and also produce a higher quality product; the collection would be much larger and more diverse.
• The first idea would be to replicate my own Rorschach images. These are inks that are part of a psychological test that rely on the interpretation of randomly generated
patterns. They are very interesting and thought provoking images which I think would work extremely well as album artwork. To create the inks would be very
satisfying as I believe there appears to be a lot more work than first appears. However, to produce a work that can be viewed from multiple perspectives; that has no
correct answer would be something worth achieving.
• I would also like to produce an action painting, an art style popularised by the artist Jackson Pollock. This art style is simple enough to follow yet it yields amazing and
unique results. There is no other form of painting which captures the strokes and motion of the artist better. Such an art style was used by John Squire when he
produced the work Bye Bye Badman which was later used as the cover for his band’s debut album.
• Another idea would be to produce an electronic album, this meaning the cover for an album of electronic music. Looking at the works of Daft Punk in particular has
inspired me to explore this idea if the time provides it. A correlation between electronic albums occurs in which the cover seems to reflect the music much more so
than other genres. I think an electronic album would push me to explore further artwork styles and challenge me to create something worthy of the genre of music
while still keeping it within the boundaries of the other album artworks.

11. These albums are ones that have inspired me to potentially create an
electronic album. The works here are something that I would like to
replicate to produce my own album cover.
Homework by Daft Punk is the album that inspired this decision while
Mylo Xyloto’s design was something that I particularly liked, especially
the shadow caused by the cover being two separate pieces.
The third and fourth album show how the designs can be simple whilst
still portraying the colour and brightness within the music. These two
follow a theme: although mine won’t, I would still like to link them in
some way to the other albums I produce.
The action painting pieces by Jackson Pollock inspired
this decision to produce another album in this style.
The work is intriguing and and in a way, unrefined. Its
brush strokes leave for open interpretation as much
as the Rorschach images.
I would produce this practically, in doing so it would
be outside of college; there is a high chance of this
work being produced.
These are Rorschach images. Each one has
multiple perspectives that each people see. In each
image multiple things can be seen, in a way it is a
collage of images which I find fascinating. The idea
of one image being made from multiple is very
appealing and is the sort of artwork expected to be
seen on an album, certainly one I would use for my
fictional band.

12. PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
WEEK 3
WEEK 2
WEEK 1
WEEK 4
WEEK 5
WEEK 7
EASTER HOLIDAY
WEEK 6
WEEK 8
WEEK 9
• Producing multiple designs and ideas for the album covers – simple mock
designs on Photoshop
• Creating illustrations – concept artwork, primarily hand drawn to result in
most accurate representation of ideas
• Collecting reference images to base the designs upon – mood boards
• Gathering images to produce a detailed overview of the product I am
producing – to create a clear image of theme and tone for production
• A clear picture of the final product will be formed
• Production of Lunar Sea cover will begin
• Use reference images to create the astronaut artwork
• Approximately half of the astronaut will be complete
• Secondary task: brainstorming song names and Archipelago ideas
• Astronaut finished by middle of week
• Entire cover finished by the end of the week – background to the image
will be completed using the reference image
• Work on songs continue – consisting of references and hidden meanings
• Production of rear cover will start and finish by the end of the week
• Use reference images from planning
• Secondary task: Archipelago ideas will be finalised – this is during
production as the creative process of drawing will assist this
• Production will begin on rear cover – using song names from ideas
• Production of rear cover will be finished
• All covers and artwork will be completed
• Items will be sent to print – external printing service
• Two week break
• Reflection at created work
• Idea generation – exploring further idea, mood board evaluation and
reflection, sketches and Photoshop designs
• Production of gatefold art will commence
• Artwork will be based entirely on the mood boards – using themes of the
images to create a suitable piece which will sum up the album
• Art will be finished within the week
• Production will begin on Archipelago
• Production of front cover will finish by end of week
• Secondary task: idea generation for artwork and song names
• Photography of album covers
• Using studio lighting and cameras
• Work may need touch up on Photoshop – time left towards end of week
• Contingency time – in house printing, incomplete work, additional details