This project was created as my senior thesis to complete my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Colorado Denver. The thesis is broken down into five major parts: Research, Interviews, The Project, Process Book and Gallery Installation. In addition to the information on this site, the Process Book creates the fullest picture of this project and all of the thinking, work and effort that went in to creating it. Please take the time to explore the book at the bottom of this page and all of the information within it that isn’t included here.
PART ONE: Research
In preparation for the creation of this thesis, a great deal of research was conducted to understand and explore how the music and design inudstries are already connected and how they are already being discussed. Below is a collection of sources used as forms of research and inspiration.
These sources are synthesized into a long-form essay “THE ROLE OF DESIGN IN MUSIC CONSUMPTION” in the Process Book.
Songscapes: Stunning graphics and visuals in the music scene by Victionary
“Seeing Noise: How Art and Design Transformed Popular Music” by Scott Timberg
“How French Electro Duo Justice Turned the Cross Symbol into a Third Band Member” by Emily Gosling
“The Cultural Capital of Designing for Musicians” by Somnath Bhatt
“The Art of the Album Campaign: Why Music Now Comes with Its Own Visual Universe” by Zara Aftab
“Remembering the Weirdest Album Launch Stunts of the 2010s” by Zach Schonfeld
“Grammys Add a Best Album Cover Category” by Abby Jones
Please read the essay in the Process Book to learn more information about how these sources informed the thesis project.
PART TWO: Interviews
In addition to finding article and print sources, what became immediately obvious as a part of this process was getting designers and musicians to all contribute their most current thoughts about the connection between music and design. I am lucky to say I have many friends and mentors in both worlds. 10 incredible individuals agreed to support this project by offering their unique insight.
The exclusive interviews are included in the Process Book. Below are links to each person’s profile or social media for further appreciation.
CORY SCHMITZ
MIRA JOYCE
CUTE HOSPITAL
SAFEHAVEN
MOORE KISMET
ALANA ROCKLIN OF STS9
ATURA
RAMONPANG
PART THREE: The Project
After establishing the context for the thesis through research and interviews, it came time for me to create my own visual world to reinforce the idea that music and design can be connected. Rather than working with a specific musician, I decided to personalize the project as much as possible. Embuing my personality into the project arrived in a few key ways: creating a playlist of favorite songs to be inspired by (linked at the bottom of this site), creating my own imaginary album campaign, and creating imaginary record label and artist names and logos to extend the proposed universe as much as possible.
The decision making behind all of the artwork is outlined in the essay “DESIGN APPROACH” in the Process Book. Below you will find a selection of artworks from the project, with even more included in the Process Book itself.
PART FOUR: Process Book
One of two major academic requirements for this thesis was the creation of a Process Book. This book, created for actual physical printing, is meant to serve as a fully realized deliverable that encapsulates all research, process and production of the thesis as a whole. The book was printed using Blurb online self-publishing service. The book is 12″ x 12″ and is approximately 1.25″ thick. It is 70 total pages and is printed on extremely high quality 596 GSM double thick cardstock paper with a robust image wrapped hardcover. Only four books were produced. One for submitting for academic review and collection, two for family members, and one for personal ownership.
As of July 2026, the books will not be sold physically. This may change in the future. Until then, at the end of this website is a page to view and download the Process Book digitally as a PDF.
PART FIVE: Gallery Installation
In addition to the Process Book, the final academic requirement for this thesis was to create a gallery installation to exhibit the work. The gallery was hosted at 3501 Blake Street in Denver, Colorado from May 4 through May 16, 2026, with a reception event on May 14, 2026. The gallery installation evolved to include several components: large scale archival prints of artwork, a bespoke vinyl gatefold, limited edition hand painted prints and limited edition holographic stickers.
The large scale artwork prints were printed at Hampden Press at 18 inches square on high quality matte stock. The vinyl gatefold is a custom 1-of-1 piece produced by American Vinyl Co. meant to extend the visual universe of the “MICROCOSM” concept. As an extracirricular component, 100 hand painted art prints were created and given away for free along with 100 3 inch holographic stickers from TheStickyBrand only on the night of the gallery reception on May 14, 2026.
Please feel free to explore the Process Book below and feel free to reach out and ask questions about the project via Instagram! -Devon