Swingin' Dream – Reductive Album Cover (Blue Note Series)

Concept

This vinyl cover for jazz trumpeter Buck Clayton channels the elegance, rhythm, and swing of his musical style into a minimalist visual language.

Design Approach

A halftone photo paired with geometric elements and soft stripes mimics melodic movement. The color palette and asymmetry reference Blue Note's iconic design ethos.

Experimental Variation

My initial design explored a more experimental approach before refining it to better align with Blue Note's sophisticated visual language while maintaining the musical energy.

Result

This cover captures both the structure and soul of Clayton's performance—bridging historical photography with stylized abstraction.