CD Cover and Case Design
for Decca Classics
Personal Project
Tools: Illustrator, Photoshop
Typeface: Mr Eaves XL San Nar OT
Objective: Decca Classics plans to release a collection of Romantic music. The collection includes masterpieces of Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Debussy. Designing covers and cases for each composer.
Target audience: People aged 20 to 40 who are not familiar with classical music but want to purchase their first set.
Usually, classical albums are designed to suit the needs of classical music lovers, therefore, performers and composers are often displayed on the CD covers. However, it can be seen as barriers to the people (especially young adults) who do not know much about the classical music.
To solve this problem, I unified the themes into music notes to symbolize distinct music styles of composers. In addition, I set four saturated color tones and chose a rose, a flame, an umbrella, and a paintbrush to visualize the feelings audiences will have when listening to the works of different composers.
For CD covers, I reduced the size of musical notes and turned them into scattering brushes to create the patterns on discs.
For booklets, I applied one type of the rest symbols which is long enough to connect each page in booklets. Another meaning is that audiences can find relief for their souls by listening to classical music.
People who want to step into the world of classical music are able to receive a preliminary understanding of the music style when they see the design of CD covers and cases.
(Left) Some examples of CD covers before the 80s were designed to match the spirit of music.
(Right) Pictures of performers and composers are usually used in designing classical music albums.
Chopin
Tchaikovsky
Rachmaninoff
Debussy
