The Art of Record Covers: Illustration Meets Lettering
A course by Steve Simpson , Designer and Illustrator
Combine illustration and lettering to create unique designs that complement the music they accompany
Do you sometimes get frustrated by the endless choice of fonts that never quite complement your illustration? Would you like to create your own typographical elements that perfectly match your illustration style? In the days before digital, illustrators and designers were often the same person. Steve Simpson embodies this philosophy in his award-winning work, where he controls every aspect of creation and production for clients such as Cerveza Modelo, Jameson, and Disney, as well as his own personal projects.
In this course, using a traditional approach, you will learn how to combine illustration and hand-drawn letters into a single seamless design piece: an illustrated record sleeve and label for a 7" vinyl.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 18 downloads
- 95% positive reviews (125)
- 2,499 students
- 15 lessons (1h 27m)
- 18 additional resources (11 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, German, Spanish (Latam), French, Indonesian, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Create an illustrated record sleeve and label, which will be attached to an actual 7” vinyl.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for both illustrators who want to bring hand lettering into their projects seamlessly, and designers looking to incorporate illustrative elements to their work.
It's for both students and professionals who want to take more control of projects by adding typographical elements and expanding the reach of their work to posters, covers, and packaging.
Requirements and materials
The drawing stages of this course are analog, while the coloring is digital. You'll need a 7” vinyl record with a small hole, a sketchbook, pencils, scissors or scalpel, glue stick, ruler, a computer or tablet with your preferred app for coloring, a sheet of A3 heavyweight cartridge paper, and a color printer.
Reviews
Steve Simpson
A course by Steve Simpson
With over 30 years of experience, Steve Simpson is renowned for his hand-lettered packaging design, whimsical characters, and illustrated barcodes. His distinctive style, inspired by the arts & crafts movement, 50s advertising, and folk art, has appeared on everything from a 1" postage stamp to a 200 feet screen in Times Square. His work has adorned whiskey bottles and cough bottles, boardgames and board rooms, hot sauces and ceramic saucers.
Since 2008, Steve has won over 50 awards for both packaging design and illustration, including Gold awards from the Association of Illustrators, Illustrators Guild of Ireland, the IDI and ICAD. He's been an awards judge for Adobe, 3x3, and the Hong Kong Society of Illustrators, and is also a founding member of the Illustrators Guild of Ireland and OFFSKETCH.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Introduction
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Influences
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What We Will Do On the Course
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U2
Preparation and Research
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Presentation of Materials
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Examples of 60s Psychedelic Album Covers
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Research
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U3
Thumbnails to Refined Sketch
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Turning Research Into Original Ideas
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Combining Hand Lettering and Illustration
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Developing Your Thumbnail
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Final Refined Drawing
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U4
Rough Colour
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Creating Tonal Rendering
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Developing Colour Palettes
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Making Rough Colour
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U5
Final Colour and Application
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How to Approach Your Final Artwork
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Printing and Glueing
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FP
Final project
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The art of covers: illustration meets lettering
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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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
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners. It covers foundational skills and step-by-step workflows using digital tools like Procreate and Affinity Designer, making it accessible even if you're new to illustration.
You'll need an iPad with Procreate or Affinity Designer, a sketchbook, pencils, a glue stick, and access to a printer for assembling physical projects. All tools and materials are introduced in the course.
You’ll learn how to integrate hand lettering with digital illustration to create cohesive designs, especially for album covers and posters. The course covers both technical and creative aspects of combining text and imagery.
Yes, the course includes lessons on designing psychedelic record covers, exploring vivid color patterns, organic typography, and integrating illustration with 1960s-inspired aesthetics.
You’ll explore sketchbook techniques, visual note-taking, and iterative sketching. The course guides you through experimenting with influences, tone, and technique to cultivate your unique artistic voice.
Yes, the course provides hands-on workflows for creating digital illustrations using both Procreate and Affinity Designer, from sketching to final color rendering.
No prior experience is required. The course starts with the basics and builds your skills progressively, making it beginner-friendly.
Apesar de curto, é um curso bem interessante.
very fun course.
Muito inspirador. Didática excelente para explicar os processos de fazer uma arte linda para capas.
Ótimo, me ajudou bastante. Consegui obter vários insight!
es como un cuento con principio, nudo y una cuarta parte del desenlace! como no van a mostrar como llega al arte final!!!!!!!!!!!!!! no me sirvió