I came across visual artist Jacob Escobedo recently while listening to one of my new favorite bands-Broken Bells. He did the cover art for their EP Meyrin Fields and is quickly becoming a great source of inspiration for me. I think his style is very intriguing because it brings together simple geometric elements, while at the same time elevating them to another level through the use of texture and color. The use of these two elements makes for a very interesting, dynamic effect. The shapes look as they might explode with potential energy, yet seem content on existing just as they are. I am amazed at the sculptural and cosmic quality he gives to the objects.
Indeed translating a band's musical artistry into an equivalent visual language is no easy task. Yet, this is basically the task of any designer...to take a feeling or sensation from another realm and translate it visually. For example, a good designer should be able to taste peanut butter and then be able to visually represent that taste. Of course, it's much easier said than done...
The geometric shapes create depth within the designs above, which help make them visually appealing.
ReplyDeleteI was kind of curious who Broken Bells were, and listened to one of their songs and I must say, The High Road is one of my favorites.
Good call, John. You said it perfectly with the peanut butter reference. And, I agree... how you'd visually interpret peanut butter is probably a tough task.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point--visual representation is everything in design. But a successful designer is one who can turn the visual into something tangible, something that can be experienced by all of our senses. Especially in covering something like music, which is a very abstract element, these artists have come up with a creative way to visualize it.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point, and one that can reference the point made in a previous point about play and design. If we can retain a sense of play and awareness of child-like fun with something it can help generate designs that communicate on a visceral level.
ReplyDeleteI was looking through his work and he definitely plays with geometric shapes in this abstract, cosmic world. His use of color is beautiful, he really plays with making this muted energy. Overall though, designers do need to be able to visually represent the things they encounter in life, but that is always easier said than done.
ReplyDeleteThe album covers make me wonder what the music you are listening to actually sounds like.
ReplyDeleteIs anyone else not seeing the images? All that comes up is a blue question mark on my end.
ReplyDeleteI love Broken Bells and also really enjoy this designer's style too--very modern.
ReplyDeleteI can't see the images either!! :( Anyway, I always thought it would be awesome to be a book or album cover designer...in fact I think I would be content doing that for as a career.
ReplyDeleteI agree what you said about Escobedo's work, the two elements he uses does cause the shapes and the overall visual composition to have an interesting, dynamic effect.
ReplyDeleteI love CD covers - if you like those check out Bright Eyes' CD covers, especially "The People's Key". You can google search it, but it's way better in person!
ReplyDeleteNot seeing the images here, boo. But I googled his artist website and I like his photographs -- he has a great eye for forms.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely agree with your peanut butter reference, it is a tough task but I feel that everyone has their own perception of how this would be visually represented which is really cool to me.
ReplyDeleteI can't see the images, but i agree it is an important skill as a designer to be able to communicate any sense through design.
ReplyDeleteAhhh I can't see the images, bummer!
ReplyDeleteI can't see the images either! But I do think that we need to very versatile, especially when it comes to music designs.
ReplyDeleteI also cant see them but I remember looking at them earlier. I think that they are amazingly eye catching. I love album art and yet I rarely look at it anymore.
ReplyDeleteI've heard their music before but never listened to the whole album, its really great! Escobedo did a beautiful job, like you said, of portraying something so abstract as their music on the cover. And as I am currently eating peanut butter, I feel as though taste is one of the most difficult of the senses to visually produce.
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