Ghost Robot Ninja Bear

Oscar wanted something that was reminiscent of the classic s/t record by The Stone Roses — a touch of Jackson Pollock with a whole lot of energy. It was out of my comfort zone initially, but we found a visual language that mixed the initial inspiration with the loudness of punk rock and the complexity and melody of Oscar's songwriting. We created a way to present his music that was a bit out-of-the-ordinary for both of us, but achieved exactly what we needed it to.

Slightly prior to the resurgence of vinyl, our most cost-effective format was on CD. In order to give us the tactile quality we were after, we planned the design around a 6-panel digipak with matte-coated stock that achieved the feeling of a gatefold LP without the cost and complexity of a vinyl pressing. Win-win.

I treated the entire endeavor as a mixed-media project—combining handmade ink splatters, layered newspaper articles, illustration, and digital tools to create the final art. More organic and freeform than any of my prior music-related design, it was a challenging process full of trial and error. The final color and inking was done digitally to allow for accurate color control prior to sending it off to press.