Brief 1 Lowknight Album Artwork
1 Brief
The Brief
Background
To create album artwork and a logo for an electronic music artist. which is set for a digital release. It is for Lowknight’s new EP Awake. The artist has a concept in mind which is essential to include in the artwork.The audience is 18-25 year old electronic music fans who enjoy discovering new music.
Lowknight is an electronic music project with an emphasis on the concepts of the human psyche, with an attempt to convey certain moods and emotions through original compositions. The outcome needs an abstract aesthetic combined with a strong concept to convey the music effectively.
Danielle Harrison
Danielle Harrison
Brief 1 Lowknight Album Artwork
2 Concept
The Concept
Tone of Voice
Imagery
Awakenings
The client had a very clear idea about what the concept is, and wanted the artwork to reflect this. The focal point should be based around the diagram for Levodopa - a drug that was used in a neurology department to awaken patients in a catatonic state. Therefore the artwork should relate to sleep and uncosciousness.
It should convey emotions of curiousity and provoke thought. Relaxation should also be a clear theme to reflect the nature of the music and the intent behind it.
The Levodopa diagram was the main source of reference imagery, and as the client wanted a heavily image based design abstract stock imagery was sourced for the designs. The client wanted this to be included in the outcome as a direct link to the drug that the concept revolves around.
Awakenings is a film that explores the use of the Levodopa drug and was a main source of inspiration for the client’s concept. It revolves around the victims of those in a catatonic state, and how this new drug may offer them a chance of awakening again.
Danielle Harrison
Brief 1 Lowknight Album Artwork
3 Visual Research
Album Artwork
Stock Imagery
Abstract Aesthetic
The album covers above show three different abstract styles. The soft burst of colour on the first example is unusual and creates curiousity in the viewer to distinguish what it is - or isn’t. The second example uses double exposure which could be used to combine two different ideas into one, whereas the 3rrd design uses photo and colour manipulation to create an enticing and bold design making it stand out. All three informed how I could use colour and layers to communicate.
Abstract royalty free stock imagery was sourced so that it would be cheaper for the client as well as provide the desired aesthetic. In particular, imagery was chosen which are cropped, have dreamlike qualities (such as the sky) and have subdued colours to portray a catatonic state where people are unconscious and not aware of everything around them.
The client was clear about the artwork having an abstract aesthetic to represent the underlying themes of curiousity, relaxation and the unknown, as well as fit in with the style that electronic music artwork uses so that it is instantly recognisable for its genre.
Brief 1 Lowknight Album Artwork
4 Development
Design 1
Design 2
The darker colours reflect the difficult time of being in a catatonic state, and the abstract style represents the unknown territory the doctors experienced while using Levodopa.The almost separate part of the design where a person can be partially seen represents how someone in a catatonic state is now hard to identify since they are not themselves anymore.
The pastel colour scheme reflects the relaxing tone of the music as well as a dreamlike state. The layered formation of the clouds reflects the uncertainty of the drug as well as create a sense of curiousity for the viewer.
Danielle Harrison
Brief 1 Lowknight Album Artwork
5 Final Design
lowknight awake
Final Design This is the design the client chose. Only being able to partially see the Earth from above represents the unknown and curiousity. Here, the Levodopa diagram weaves between the clourds to create an abstract aesthetic, and represent the view that not all of the facts were known at the time of its use.
Danielle Harrison