Anniversary Albums
One of my favorite ongoing projects. This is a very fun and creative way that I give anniversary gifts to my lovely girlfriend every year. I take inspiration from albums that have interesting cover art or are just significant to me. I use them as direct references to create pieces that imbody every detail of the person that created them, but with a twist that makes them personal to both me and my girlfriend. As you look through these pieces, you also look through my journey as a designer, every year my skill improves, and it is reflected in the work. Each vinyl was playable with a hand picked trackless that reflects all the songs we listened to that year.
2021
This project began as a one off for our first anniversary. At the time I was still in college and just beginning to get familiar with illustrator. I took some Inspiration from Blonde by Frank Ocean. While the similarity was there, It lacked that distinct rectangle upright image and the subtle textured off-white background. The back cover was completely original as I was not as dedicated to the source material. If you look close, you can see an early version of the CHD logo
Album Front Cover
Blonde by Frank Ocean, 2016. Designed by Wolfgang Tillmans
2022
As we move to the next year, The idea of continuing this as a series becomes a reality. The project was a perfect way to practice my skills and create a personal intimate gift for the person I love. I chose An Evening with Silk Sonic by Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak a.k.a Silk Sonic. I focused my effort into better recreating the exact styles and fonts that this album contained. Font research and heavy illustrative editing produced a cover that closely resembles its inspiration. The texture was troublesome as the exact sandpaper/card stock-ish was basically unattainable at the time. Even harder than that, was finding reference for the back of the album. After countless hours of searching, I was able to locate a very blurry, very small picture.
Album Front Cover
Album Back Cover
An Evening with Silk Sonic By Silk Sonic, 2021.
2023
Year three sees a similar outcome but with the added bonus of the subtle grain that this seemingly flat vector has. While this seems like it was the easiest one yet, the amount of detail and easter eggs placed in this design makes quite the opposite. This album is special to me because its tour was the first concert I went to. If you have never listened to this album, or any of the others on this list, I highly recommend it. These album designs and playlist are filled with diverse genres that are sure to have something for everyone.
Album Front Cover
Album Back Cover
The Never Story by J.I.D, 2017.
2024
Named Capricorn Rights as a play on both the name of the reference album and her astrological sign. This is the first one created exclusively in photoshop. Blending the use of masking and heavy color mixing. This album presented a very interesting challenge of matching the very edited reference. Some things to note in the design is the down turned horns that represent the horns of the Sea goat, the animal for the Capricorn sign.
Album Front Cover
Album Back Cover
Gemini Rights by Steve Lacy, 2022.