I have realised that it could be beneficial to my work if I attempt to receive feedback on my design from someone whom isn't related to an art background and, importantly, doesn't know the brief that I have been set. I intend to do this to see the initial reaction from a public audience, rather than one of my peers whom knows of the Secret 7" brief, and potentially has been informed of the concept behind the piece.
The person whom I have asked questions to does know of Lorde and her music, which will have an influence on the answers given.
Questions and feedback
"Can you see the concept behind this piece, is it obvious it's based around a concept/idea?"
I can’t really see the concept very clearly so I don’t think it is that obvious. What is obvious is purpose, it’s clear that it has been done intentionally and so there must be a concept. My initial association was that in her song Royals Lorde mentions ‘diamonds in the flesh’ and various other references. Also, her stage name Lorde/pure heroine is very demanding and headstrong. I would deduce she has some feminist views perhaps, hence why I wouldn’t say the diamonds and the pink colours are to reflect gender or the typical ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.’
Diamonds are also very magnificent and durable, the album being called team; maybe it reflects the album name and song lyrics. I’m not immediately sure why they are pink and blue. They are translucent as to see her face, but it obscures her a lot. If this is the effect that you were aiming for then fair enough but I’m not sure why, especially when people do actually want to see the artist in today’s society.
The aim may be just that, so it isn’t superficial. Or to show she’s behind some impenetrable barrier? It seems very busy and there is no focal point. A very unusual CD cover I think a lot of people would ask why the cover was like that in a positive intrigued way.
"Do you like the aesthetic look of the design?"
The overall aesthetic look of the design is somewhat confusing and juxtaposed, the diamonds seem very juvenile and lack the seriousness most album covers have these days. This may be to reflect her youth. It doesn’t look expensive, in contradiction to the diamonds on the cover and it seems a bit tacky because of that. Probably due to the fact I can’t immediately see the concept. Unless they are meant to look a bit downgraded due to her views on items of wealth like diamonds? The diamonds themselves too seem obscured, I’m not sure why. I’m grasping something to do with oppression or unfamiliar materialistic things like diamonds after all she’s very young and has come probably from a pretty basic life to fame. She talks about diamonds and jewels a lot in her songs. Is it meant to be contradictory to her views in her songs that being rich shouldn’t be everyone’s aim as it consumes people and she doesn’t want to be one of those people and the cover shows this?
Overall I think it is very mysterious, confusing. Maybe it would need explaining to people and of course the only person who could do that is the designer, unless that got incorporated into the design somehow I’m not even sure how the message would be conveyed whatever that may be. However Lorde fans may understand. The colour scheme may need changing; it seems very bright in contrast to the picture. In a strange way the more I look at it the more I like it though in all honesty, it grows on you definitely I don’t hate the cover at all but it’s slightly annoying actually that it’s just being taken over by the diamonds! Maybe that’s the message!
Evaluation
I have found this description/critical analysis of my design work applicable. This feedback, which in a sense is more valuable than a fellow designer's due to the fact that the work could potentially be exhibited in a public domain, and judged by a widespread audience, knowing the primary thoughts on my design will benefit it's development greatly.
I have highlighted a range of key sentences from this Q&A to indicate to me the important pieces of information and aims which I can try to hit when developing this further.
Regarding the concept:
-clear that it has been done intentionally and so there must be a concept.
-her song Royals Lorde mentions ‘diamonds in the flesh’ and various other references.
-Lorde/pure heroine is very demanding and headstrong.
-I would deduce she has some feminist views perhaps
-pink colours are to reflect gender
These are all ideas from my design which this person has considered when evaluating the sleeve idea.
Thankfully it is obvious that the diamonds and the choices are intentional, as I was fearing that a reaction could be that it wasn't. It is known that Lorde often speaks about Diamonds in her other songs and uses it as a metaphor to communicate wealth and material possessions, particularly in celebrity culture.
It is backed up that the idea of the diamonds being inanimate and contradictory is incorrect, and there must be a meaning behind the symbols. The colours aren't something which would be suited to Lorde's style, she would be against pink being used to represent women, as she could have feminist views.
From this discovery I can develop my design into something which is more overt and less unobvious than the design that I have currently. Lots of ideas are in my head from this feedback around the concept, and ones which could inspire new designs related closely to this.
Regarding the aesthetic:
-juvenile and lack the seriousness most album covers have these days
-doesn’t look expensive, in contradiction to the diamonds
-The diamonds themselves too seem obscured
-The colour scheme may need changing; it seems very bright in contrast to the picture.
-slightly annoying actually that it’s just being taken over by the diamonds!
From these sentences of de-constructive criticism, I have now learnt that the colour scheme looks tacky and doesn't work against the contrast of the photograph, that the diamonds look unidentifiable
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