BLOG 5 – COLLABORATOR TWO

Now that I have found a music producer, I wanted further my exploration to find other people who I could possibly collaborate with. For example, I thought it would be a great opportunity to work with someone to create an EP cover. I decided to get in contact with a professional illustrator and animator Alex, who goes by the name of ‘ScribbleStache’. I spoke to Alex via Facebook to discuss whether he would be interested in collaborating with me.

From this, I further looked into Alex’s previous work on his website, giving me insight into the areas of work he has created and who he has worked with. This also includes various types of illustration and animation he has created! (See video below).

EP COVER ARTWORK RESEARCH (STARTING POINTS):

As a brief starting point, these are the main areas I need to look into when working with an artist to create an EP cover:

1. Research Album Cover – Other artists inspiration
2. Methods – Sizing, text/font
3. ‘Guidelines’ – Unique cover, copyright

Source: PQ, 2020

COLLABORATIVE CHECK/IDEAS:

Because of the distance between me and Alex, it is important that through online resources and social media platforms, we are still able to collaborate effectively. As highlighted by Donelan (2012):

‘computing and communication technologies have provided us with useful and powerful information resources, remote instruments, and tools for interacting with each other’.

Although there are many positives to collaborating online, there are some issues that may arise when trying to communicate:

• Effective communication/interaction – reliability, availability to reply
• ‘Expressing opinions’ – not being able to see each other face-to-face, honesty and personal opinion

Adapted from Source: Wolf (2013)

These issues will be resolved by speaking through Facebook messenger, sending each other documents through email or on Skype/telephone call. Razmerita (2013, p.1) further suggests that: ‘social media enables a new model of managing knowledge that involves formal and informal communication, collaboration using a variety of applications’ showing that online collaboration can be used both positively and successfully.

What Next?

Now that I have found an illustrator who could potentially help me to create EP artwork, I need to research and create a plan or ‘mock-up’ of what I am hoping to achieve. I also need to look into the direction I would like to take the artwork.

1. Research into album artwork
2. Create a ‘mock up’
3. Carry on with first initial ideas of EP – Continue this with music producer

Reference List:

Donelan, H., Kear, K., Ramage, M. (2012). Online Communication and Collaboration: A Reader. Oxon: Routledge.

PQ, R. (2020). HOW TO DESIGN EFFECTIVE ALBUM COVER ART. Available at: https://iconcollective.edu/album-cover-art-tips/ [Accessed March 19th, 2020].

Razmerita, L. (2013). Collaboration Using Social Media: The Case of Podio in a Voluntary Organization. Department of International Business Communication, Copenhagen Business School. Collaboration and Technology, p.1-9.

ScribbleStache. (2017). ScribbleStache Showreel. (Online Video). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdEJFnuN1yA [Accessed March 19th, 2020].

Wolf, K. (2013) Five Issues the Best Collaboration Software Can’t Fix. Available at: https://redbooth.com/blog/five-issues-the-best-collaboration-software-cant-fix [Accessed March 26th 2020].