Nervous Records
Vinyl design for the god-father of house music
Intro
Louie Vega is a celebrated figure in the music industry, renowned for his significant contributions as a DJ, record producer, and remixer. As one-half of the legendary Masters at Work duo, alongside Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez, Vega has been instrumental in shaping the house music scene since the 1990s. His eclectic sound, which seamlessly blends elements of house, salsa, jazz, funk, and soul, has earned him a reputation for being a pioneer in creating innovative and genre-defying tracks.
Challenge
For this project, it was vital to honour the classic tracks on Louie Vega’s album while injecting a modern twist into his new record, all translated through vibrant visuals. We dove into portrait images from a New York photoshoot, using them to craft a cohesive and distinctive sleeve design that retained Louie’s unique character and style. We needed to ensure the artwork could be varied to distinguish between the two parts of the release but still feed into the artist’s overall brand.
Plus, we ensured the artwork could be varied to clearly distinguish between the two parts of the release, striking the perfect balance between nostalgia and fresh flair.
Key Ideas & Insights
Playing with bold typography
The design prominently featured Louie's name in a bold, condensed typeface to ensure maximum presence and visibility on the cover.
Image Retouching
The initial stage involved professionally retouching the supplied images of Louie to ensure they were of the highest quality and ready for the press.
Establishing a distinct aesthetic
A bold colour scheme using red and yellow was implemented, establishing a distinct aesthetic for the record that is now closely associated with it.
Flexible design assets
The use of a large colour block in the background allowed for easy variation in the second release, providing a different vibe while maintaining a consistent overall appearance.
Creating a classic feel
The inner labels were produced with a keen eye to layout and structure, incorporating all key information. The logos evoke a classic feel to be in alignment with the labels contents.
Using overlay to create a window effect with the text
We used image techniques to overlay and integrate the image using the text as a window. Coupled with the same technique on the back of the vinyl and the rest of the design assets, it created a stand-out and sharp visual effect.
