Graphic design: an introduction

I enjoy many aspects of graphic design and have well over a decade's worth of experience designing for both screen/web and printed media, from promotional flyers & posters, business stationery, to CDs, DVDs, brochures, and more. Read on for a little taster of what I can do…

Album cover design

If you were to analyse it, my love of graphic design would probably stem from a childhood obsession with album covers. Fitting, then, that the area of graphic design I have most experience in is album cover design.

One I'm particularly proud of is this for Jamie Akers' lute album. I was responsible for all aspects of the design: from photographing the front cover image, right through to sleeve layout, typography, and the CD onbody artwork itself.

Jamie's CD was one of the final releases on the record label I founded, Natural Studio Records, and by this point I feel the design language had matured into something really rather lovely.

Here's some more in a similar vein from the same label...

This next one dates back ten years, probably only the third or fourth album I did, but still a design I look on with fondness. No surprise to see ITC's Avant Garde Gothic because I was absolutely obsessed and probably would have used it for anything at that point. If I recall correctly, it was the first font I splashed out on and bought the entire family.

Typography

I have more than a passing interest in typography and can often be found oogling a curvy bowl or graceful ascender. It's no secret that typesetting and creating a pleasing page layout appeals to my obsessive nature.

While I do love designing for screen, a well designed font (such as František Štorm's Baskerville Original seen here) really comes alive in print.

I've also designed a few logotypes down the years; this latest one I'm particularly proud of...

(I think every type-nerd eventually succumbs and tries their hand at creating a geometric sans. Clearly I was no exception.)

And still within the realm of typography, but of a different kind: an ongoing personal project is the design of a music font conducive to the setting of contemporary classical music. It's a work in progress, but things are starting to come together...

Adobe, look what you've done to me

You want to know how much time I spend embroiled in Adobe software? I sometimes lose touch of reality and think I can use the Spot Healing Tool to remove a blemish from a physical item in the real-world.

In all seriousness, though, I'll gladly endorse most of Adobe's software and am a full subscriber to Adobe's CC service. I'm particularly capable in Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and Acrobat. Not sure what I'd do without that software—probably experience the great outdoors a lot more.