TUNDAY AKINTAN: ALBUM DESIGN

In 2022, I was contacted by a local musician to create a series of designs for four new albums. I was briefed to create uniquely separate designs that together looked like a family of albums. To begin with, we agreed on just creating designs for vinyl covers, the vinyl label and digital assets. We also discussed creating an album ‘visualiser’ for use on YouTube in the near future, animating the static elements from the album cover.

My client is heavily inspired by the music of Fela Kuti and Tony Allen to name a few, he therefore wanted this to be reflected in the design. He also is a big fan of Blue Note album cover designs of the 50s-70s. Knowing this, I drew inspiration from elements of the afrobeat records of the past and utilised influences from traditional Yoruba patterns and graphics to create something that is unique to him but also reflective of the genre and vibrant sounds on each record.

Incorporating traditional African motifs such as Adinkra symbols or Kente cloth designs was something I looked at extensively when developing concepts. My client reinforced that it was essential to pay attention to the details, ensuring that the overall aesthetic captures the spirit of Afrobeat while also standing out on record store shelves.

Tools Used:
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign

Contribution:
Editorial & Layout / Typography / Illustration / Print / Merchandise