Today’s designer superstars have often forged their graphic design language in the world of music.

From jazz cover art to club flyers, from CD-packaging to fly posters, the culture of music offers unlimited possibilities for visual experimentation. Sonic Graphics/Seeing Sound not only showcases this rich genre, but is the first book to get to the heart of the relationship between music and its successful graphic expression.

Exemplary work from studios around the world is presented in three sections: ‘Notation’ analyses the use of sign and symbol systems in creating identity and branding for music artists, recording projects and performances; ‘Material’ considers how products can package the intrinsic nature of the music they contain; and ‘Atmosphere’ looks at how space and multidimensional environments can be used to visualize sound. A reference section includes studio websites and a glossary.

Matt Woolman is Assistant Professor of Communication Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he is also Design Director of the Center for Design Studies. He is co-author with Jeff Bellantoni of Type in Motion, also published by Thames & Hudson.

Also of interest
Type in Motion 2
Fly by Night: The New Art of the Club Flyer