Thumbnail sketches

Initially I began to explore ways in which photography could be combined in order to create an innovative, visually pleasing cover. A variety of options were explored, but the sentiment of photomontage was widely appealing, as it has potential to display multiple contexts. The strongest ideas exhibited from these thumbnails include (1) and (5). Image one explores the death of Etta, and her movement into music history. This idea would be explored by a headshot of Etta fading into the background, not only would this display Etta transitioning into music legendary but also would imply the fading of herself, due to  alzheimer's, in which she discovered during 2010. Idea five is much more simplistic, and would involve an image of Etta being distorted, in coherence to her drug abuse. The image would also be displayed in black and white as that was the format in which she would have been most recognisable in (due to the media vastly consisting of black and white newspapers/ television).



Secondly, I began to think about approaches in which could be developed using C.A.D. A range of ideas were exploded varying from visual vocals to race being exhibited through notes. Again some designs were obviously stronger than others, and in this case it being (6) and (11). Idea six suggests a comical response to the line "my hearts wrapped up in clover", a far too literal response which in turn explores a comical aspect of design. Design 11 explores the ways in which chess records (the company in which Etta produced 'at last' with) helped tackle racial issues during the time of segregation, and almost pushed black artists further in order to exhibit black talent to a white bias community.



Monoprint/Screenprint were prominent design processes during the time of the 'At last' release, and thus in order to create contextuality I specifically liked the idea of using these methods to aid me with my design. Number (14) explores the usage of typography to exhibit Etta's involvement within the civil rights movement. If this idea could be explored further looking closely at colour and composition, I feel that it could be a highly insightful design piece in which creates an enigma, and thus makes the consumer more interested in the overall design.

Letterpress is again a technique in which was highly used during Etta's most successful period within the music industry. Due to this, and the strong nature of the words 'funky testifying' I would like to combine the two in order to develop a highly contextual piece. The more simplistic design ideas (18) and (20) display the phrase effectively without creating impact design, something in which I feel would take away from the pieces context.

Number (23) explores the usage of spray paint, in which as an art itself is seen to be troublesome and rebellious. Both factors in which the civil rights movement was portrayed as being at the time. If I were to complete a design of this style, it would also be a strong idea to include a metallic colour palette in order to express Etta as an icon.

To finalise my ideas, I developed some rough sketches of factors in which I felt I had forgotten within previous designs, in order to tackle every design aspect. Within the following design processes, I will explore a range of approaches and methods to the designs correlated above. Considering context, colour and composition.