“Sounds Like ____ [Vol. 1]”
Great Time Album Cover

portfolio > CREATIVE DIRECTION
BRANDING & Digital Design

“Sounds Like ____ [Vol. 1]”
Great Time Album Cover

Listen | Watch | Online | Instagram | Facebook
Visual Branding • Digital Design • Illustration • Entertainment Arts

Credits: Will Johnson

ROLE
Creative Director
Lead Designer
Illustrator
Brand Strategist

PRINCIPALS
Jill Ryan | Lead Vocalist
Tim Garth | Band Member
Donnie Spackman | Band Member

Project Overview

“Sounds Like ____ [Vol. 1]”
Great Time Album Cover
Listen | Watch | Online | Instagram | Facebook
BLUF

"Sounds Like ____ [Vol. 1]" marks the first installment in a three-act series by Philadelphia-based band Great Time.
As a young band forging its identity, the group constantly faced industry pressure to define themselves within a specific genre—something they rejected in favor of artistic freedom.
Mission

Originally titled Pick a Lane, the project was a direct response to these expectations, emphasizing their refusal to be boxed in.
My role as Creative Director and Lead Designer/Illustrator was to visually translate this ethos into an album cover that captured both the band’s evolving identity and the sonic diversity of their music.
Outcomes

The final design, a vivid digital illustration, reimagined a scene from their music video Starr, portraying the band vibing inside a car—a metaphor for their artistic journey—while the world passed by outside.
Impacts

The dreamlike, comic-book aesthetic reinforced the surreal, limitless quality of Great Time’s unique sound and brand.

As a young band, Great Time was at a pivotal moment in shaping their public image. Their branding needed to be distinct yet flexible, allowing them to evolve without being tied to one specific look or style.
The challenge was crafting an album cover that visually represented their refusal to be categorized while remaining inviting and recognizable to their audience.

Key Contributions

Strengthened Visual Identity

Helped define the band’s evolving aesthetic with a cohesive, expressive album cover.
Digital Illustration & Album Art

Designed stylized band portraits for album art, promos, and animated visuals, strengthening Great Time’s visual identity.
Elevated Brand Cohesion

Tied the cover art to their music video, reinforcing their unique visual narrative.
Industry Recognition

Provided a distinct and memorable visual presence that set Great Time apart in an oversaturated market.
Symbolic Storytelling

Successfully translated their artistic philosophy into an image that resonated with both the band and their audience.

The illustration took a bold, narrative-driven approach, using rich colors and a dreamlike aesthetic to depict the band’s creative space inside the car. Inspired by the visual language of animated comics, the design blurred the line between reality and imagination—mirroring their music’s ability to transcend genre.
The album art served as both a standalone piece and an extension of the band’s world-building efforts, ensuring visual continuity across their music and video releases.

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