Art Direction for CD covers
A course by Goster , Designer
Learn to design and conceptualize the emotions transmitted by music
Looking to combine your love of music with your passion for graphic design? Album art designer and three-time Grammy nominee José Antonio Mesones (Goster) is ready to show you how to do just that.
In this online course, discover how to conceptualize and design the complete visual package for an album that tells a powerful story and can stir up a range of emotions.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 21 downloads
- 98% positive reviews (167)
- 3,084 students
- 15 lessons (2h 57m)
- 21 additional resources (16 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish, German, English, Italian, Portuguese
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software & tools for this course
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe PhotoshopWhat is this course's project?
Develop the concept and design for an album cover that complements the music and its emotions. Goster offers Radiohead's OK Computer album as an example, but you can choose the music that inspires you the most.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Graphic designers, collage artists, music fans, and design lovers looking to combine their design skills with their love for music.
Requirements and materials
Basic knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop is required. In terms of materials, you need a computer with Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
Reviews
Goster
A course by Goster
José Antonio Mesones, better known as Goster, is a cofounder of Partners, a graphic design and visual communication studio. Spanning more than two decades, his career includes work with brands such as El Comercio, Backus, Promperú, Adidas, and the Ministerio de Cultura.
He has received three Grammy nominations in the Best Recording Package category and has been recognized nationally and internationally by Padis, ATA, Society of Newspaper Design, DAFOS, and the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards for his work as an album cover designer. He has also participated in numerous art and design exhibitions in cities like Bogotá, Berlin, New York, Montreal, London, Barcelona, and Madrid.
Content
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U1
Intro
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Presentation
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Influences (part 1)
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Influences (part 2)
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U2
Backstage Defining the concept
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The order: Analysis of the disk
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The Conceptualization: Brainstorming
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The Documentation: Images and photos
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U3
Recording Graphing music
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Collage 1: Understanding the process
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Collage 2: Building the covers
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Collage 3: Building the image of the cover
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Uniformization and textures
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U4
Mixing Designing the disk
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Vol 1: First sketches
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Vol 2: Cover
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Vol 3: Back cover and label
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U5
Mastering Preparing the work
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Bonus track 1: Final artwork cover and back cover
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Bonus track 2: Final art covers and label
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FP
Final project
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Design of album covers
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
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Learn from the best professionals
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Meet expert teachers
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Certificates
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Get front-row seats
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
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FAQs
You’ll learn how to conceptualize, create, and finalize punk album and fanzine covers using digital collage, experimental typography, and editorial graphic design techniques, drawing on both historical and contemporary references for music projects.
This is an intermediate-level course, perfect for those with basic graphic design knowledge who want to dive deeper into creating music covers and fanzines with a creative, experimental edge.
You’ll need access to programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, plus digital resources such as images, textures, and fonts to craft collages and covers; having a computer capable of graphic editing is also recommended.
The course explores how punk culture’s aesthetic and ideas influence graphic design, applying DIY techniques, collage, and rebellious visuals to create authentic, expressive covers and fanzines.
Yes, you’ll learn both traditional cut-and-paste methods and digital tools to create artistic collages for album covers and music materials.
You’ll create album covers, back covers, sleeves, and fanzines, working through conceptualization, sketching, collage, and preparing final artwork for professional printing.
You’ll learn how to choose, manipulate, and apply experimental typography to strengthen the visual identity of album and fanzine covers, using examples from punk and post-punk music and culture.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Corso molto interessante e stimolante! Da seguire!
Excelente y motivante curso con trabajos muy bonitos y buenas ideas y técnicas para principiantes y gente que ama el arte de los discos.
Buen curso!
buenisimo!!!
Es un buen curso, pero muchas partes del curso tiene información superficial