12inch vinyl sleeve design

[Alex Traska]

Good afternoon people,

Been a while since I posted anything in here so I thought I'd stick up some work I've just done for a record label. They're releasing underground deep-house / soulful house music and comissioned me to produce two sleeves; one for the release with the original mixes and another for the release with the Jay-J mixes.

Apologies for the low res previews of the file, but it gives you the idea. I got some proofs printed up yesterday and the colours are better on paper than screen (i.e on the green version, the white text is very easily read in print).

Finally, I must apologise for the much hated "swoosh". The label has already had a load of releases and swooshes are a common theme that they insisted I kept (Although actually I rather like it in this case).

All comments appreciated...

http://www.myhouse-yourhouse.net/flyers/other/swank_funkyloveAprev.jpg
http://www.myhouse-yourhouse.net/flyers/other/swank_funkyloveBprev.jpg

I haven't done the centre-labels for the records yet, I'm doing those today. I'll add them to the thread when done.

Cheers,
Alex Traska

[Danger_Mouse]

Although Im not a big fan of this particular style, I think you pulled it off rather well and represents the genre of music well.. I think I like the first one better. Its a little busy but I can get over it.... and was the kerning on Justin Michael tight like that on purpose?

I think you did a great job. Maybe some tans instead of whites and browns would look better than the black. Its a little too bold (my opinion only though). Is that barbed wire I'm seeing siloquetted?

Good job!

ps - I like the swoosh

[Alex Traska]

thanks for your response.

The front is busy, yes, but when printed as a 12"x12" vinyl sleeve it's large enough not to be as 'busy-looking' as the small preview image I've posted. The colours have been chosen to be extremely bright- almost flourescent as far as process colours go. The green works especially well and I was very surprised actually on receiving the proofs.

The kerning was purposefully set very tight on the main artist/title text.

[reuber1]

Don't know what else to say dude, I love it.

[patkennedy78]

Great Work! I am a fan of that style, both design and music. It's a very appealing piece that would look good on display at a record shop. I'm always envious when people can pull off the 1 color plus black design challenge, and you did it very well. Great balence and contrast. Make sure to get some copies for your self, I'd love to have a record in my portfolio.

[Danger_Mouse]

The front is busy, yes, but when printed as a 12"x12" vinyl sleeve it's large enough not to be as 'busy-looking' as the small preview image I've posted. The colours have been chosen to be extremely bright- almost flourescent as far as process colours go. The green works especially well and I was very surprised actually on receiving the proofs.


I think your right, once blown up to 12" x 12" it will look alot better and not seem so condensed. And once you mentioned you wanted that flourescent look I think I like the green one better. I just like those orange/brown combos for some reason (preference only).

Sexy design though the more I look at it.

[1ooScreamingTrees]

I love it when I see this style, or those simmilar, because every single time you get someone who says "I normally don't like this style...BUT you nailed it ...."

The stance should probably be more along the lines of "I enjoy this style but only when it is spot-on and justified."

Your execution is dead-on. Great job. Conceptually - it's nothing stunning. We've seen it all a million times...and for some reason it always involves butterflies. The positive/negative is working great though.

Overall - a great piece!

[CamarotaDesign]

Its bangin' great work, I dig your style, though my threshhold for butterfly designs is reaching its limit.

[Alex Traska]

Yea I agree that the saturation of butterflies in design is nearing its limit. If I produce any more of the sleeves in this series I've got some ideas up my sleeve. :)

[orkaknos12]

Art for art's sake is also getting to the saturation point.

-Jon

[urstwile]

I do have a little problem with the kerning on the artist name. I don't really mind the tight tracking, but it's unevenly kerned. I'd work on that a bit more. If you're going for that look, it still needs to be evenly done, otherwise it looks weird.

[D-Frag]

effin awesome man, the orange is better then the yellow in my opinion, but ultimately it depends on your target audience.

[cjoe]

snappy.

[nufoundfunk]

I like it dude.... great stuff. Me only thinks though that typography needs a bit of tweaking. Seems a bit on the bigger side, unbalanced :) Other than that wicked!

[CamarotaDesign]

I agree, Im getting sick of seeing album covers that just look cool, with absolutely no communication.

However, I think this design is relevant to techno/house music. IMO Its a visual representation of the music.

Art for art's sake is also getting to the saturation point.

-Jon

[Samakimoto Graphics]

Awesome!