2nd Annual Figment Album Cover Design Contest!
April 2nd, 2010
We’re very excited to announce the kick-off of one of the biggest contests on Figment! That’s right it’s time for the 2nd Annual Figment Album Cover Design Contest! What’s even more exciting is that once again we have an incredible artist and album cover designer lined up to judge it!
William Schaff, who is probably best known for his design work for independent bands like Okkervil River (which unfortunately led to some confusion), has agreed to judge the Top 10 submissions in this year’s contest. Will is a real talent, but I’ll let his official bio do the talking…
William Schaff is a wreck. His most recent regular pay work involved him punching people in the head, and hoping they didn’t punch him back. That said he manages to create lots of artwork for different folk. From the likes of fine authors, to such notable independent musicians as Okkervil River, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and many more. This boy has chops! Chops and debt! Working hard at avoiding debt collectors and making as much art as possible before they catch up with him, this fine artist is just trying to keep his lights on, his car insured and his mortgage paid. Well, one out of three ain’t bad..God Bless you, William Schaff
If that didn’t give you enough insight into Will we definitely recommend you read this great interview he did with Pitchfork.
We definitely agree w/ Will’s bio that he has chops, and we’re thrilled that he’s agreed to lend his expert design sense and his well-trained eye to the judging of this year’s entries.
So how does the contest work? Well, it’s really quite simple, we’re looking for the best original album cover design. What does that mean? Well, the album cover that not only has the best design (image, font, layout, etc.), but also best conveys the band and album’ s content. Last year the winner was The Pearls of Lutra for their album “I shall still do my best.” John Coulthart, last year’s judge, picked them because:
Of all the entries this was easily the most visually arresting even though the image isn’t particularly graceful. Pretty images or glossy photos aren’t always what you need on an album cover but impact counts for a great deal. I’ve no idea where the photo comes from but it’s immediately striking. And the placement of the typography was carefully done as well, it doesn’t spoil the power of the image. The face and the type balance each other with both moving towards the centre. A lot of bands would be very pleased with a cover like this.
So how will the judging work? The initial round of judging will be done by the Figment staff who will pick the Top 10 covers that they think merit being considered by William Schaff. William will then pick a winner and 2 runners up from that Top 10.
So what do you get for winning? Well, beyond just bragging rights, we thought we’d arm the winner with everything they would need to be a top album cover designer.
The first thing would be a copy of the premier 3D graphic design software on the market. So the winner will receive a copy of the brand new Adobe Photoshop CS5-Extended courtesy of Adobe. That alone is a prize worth $1,000 USD, but it doesn’t end there!
A good designer also needs inspiration, and since William is this year’s judge, we thought it would be appropriate to arm our winner with some of William’s work. So the winner will be able to pick up to $50 of Will’s merch!
And lastly, all the best designers are paid for their work, so why should you be any different? With that in mind, we will pay the winner 1,000 pieces of Lucre for his/her winning piece of cover art!!!
The runners up will each receive 750 and 500 pieces of lucre respectively, and we may have a few other prizes to throw into the mix soon enough, so we’ll keep you posted!
So now that you know what’s at stake, what do you need to do to enter? Here are the basic rules of the contest:
1. You must be a registered Figment user to participate. If you don’t currently have a Figment account please click here to create one. This contest is open to Figment users worldwide.
2. Create a fake band on Figment and release an album with cover art. You may also release an album by an existing band that you created. To be considered an album must contain song titles. Even thought they won’t be the focus of our judging, an album that is released without any song titles it will be disqualified. Once you have released the album or album(s) you want to submit as an entry please post the band and album name as a comment to this post, so that we and other users can check it out. If you don’t post the band/album name as a comment to this post or your album cover entry won’t be considered.
3. Any artwork used in the creation of your album cover should either be original or at least one at which you have the permission of the copyright owner to use. If you do use someone else’s work you need to make it your own by at the very least adding text or something that makes it your own. Any album designs that are judged as being a copy of an existing work will be disqualified. We will also disqualify any album cover that is offensive in nature – sexist, racist or hate-based.
4. The contest will run from Friday, April 2, 2010 until Friday, June 4, 2010. All submissions must be posted by no later than 11:59 pm ET on Friday, June 4th.
5. By no later than, Friday, June 11, 2010 Figment will select the Top 10 album covers and send them to William Schaff for his review. John will look the Top 10 covers over and select the Top 5 – a winner and two runners up. The winner and runners up will be announced on Friday, June 18, 2010.
As we stated earlier, this is one of the biggest contests we run on Figment and we’re thrilled to have William Schaff on-board to be the ultimate judge. So really pull out all the stops and try to create an album cover design that you think captures your fake band’s esthetic and “sound.” We look forward to your submissions.
If you’d like to read the full contest rules you can access them at:
http://figment.cc/content/pdf/2010_Album_Cover Design_Contest_Rules.pdf
April 2nd, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Albion by The Forgotten Falling
April 2nd, 2010 at 2:55 pm
One thing I forgot to put in the post is that it helps to put the URL in your comment so that people can just click on it and see your work without having to search for it on Figment.
So for instance:
Albion by Forgotten Falling:
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2674/albion.fig
April 2nd, 2010 at 5:04 pm
I will most certainly be entering this contest! Quick question: do entries have to be full albums or can EP, singles, etc. be entered as well?
April 3rd, 2010 at 8:38 am
Good question frizbee. You can submit full albums, EPs or Singles.
April 3rd, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Can we enter as many as we want?
April 3rd, 2010 at 4:28 pm
“Jar Full of Hearts” single by Eccentric Arcade
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2720/jar-full-of-hearts-single.fig
April 4th, 2010 at 10:03 am
ChildofAlma – yes.
April 4th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
“The Sign of Depression” by The Silver Stones
April 4th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
“Get A Load Of This!” by Firecharged!
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2775/get-a-load-of-this.fig
April 4th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Quick question: can our entries be older album covers, you know ones we’ve already released, even as far as a couple of months ago??
April 4th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
TMTYTF – yes and no. We’d prefer if it was more recent stuff, but if you think there is one cover in particular that you released you can include it – but please nothing you submitted last year. We would like to see new submissions, so please don’t just load this up with old releases.
April 5th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Apocolyption by the Forgotten Falling
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2411/apocolyption.fig
April 5th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
The Sign of Depression by The Silver Stones
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2857/the-sign-of-depression.fig
April 5th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
“Satisfaction Guaranteed” by The Nymphomaniacs
http://www.figment.cc/home/viewalbum.fig?id=2628
April 5th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
“The Diablo Within” by Devil’s Playground
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2518/the-diablo-within.fig
April 5th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
“Hell Yeah III” by The Nymphomaniacs
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2471/hell-yeah-iii.fig
April 5th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
“Alter Ego” by Fragment Shelter
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2572/alter-ego.fig
April 5th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
“The Power of Energy Versus The Force of Gravity” by Red Flames Rising
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2618/the-power-of-energy-versus-the-force-of-gravity.fig
April 5th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
“Number 6″ by Gravestompers
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2787/number-6.fig
April 5th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
“The Black Album” by Stonekrank
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2715/the-black-album.fig
April 5th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
“South Texas Death Toast” single by Gravestompers
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2735/south-texas-death-toast-single.fig
April 6th, 2010 at 6:36 am
“Scarlet” by Dollhouse in Black http://www.figment.cc/albums/2670/scarlet.fig
April 7th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
The self-titled debut album by Sleeping Through The Apocalypse http://figment.cc/albums/2876/sleeping-through-the-apocalypse.fig
April 8th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
“Let’s Go!” by The Logisticals http://figment.cc/albums/2932/lets-go.fig
April 8th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
“Fatality” EP by Such Fatality http://figment.cc/albums/2921/fatality.fig
April 8th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
“Boku No Bushido” by Wakizashi http://www.figment.cc/albums/2916/boku-no-bushido.fig
April 9th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
“Cruel Joke” by After My Demolition
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2822/cruel-joke.fig
April 9th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
“Scream” by Fragile Agony
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2681/scream.fig
April 9th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
“Fear Inc.” by Spee D I
http://www.figment.cc/bands/409/spee-d-i.fig
April 11th, 2010 at 2:15 am
“Listen To Your Instincts” by The Phony Fakers http://www.figment.cc/albums/2907/listen-to-your-instincts.fig
April 11th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
“Neverland” by The Jupiter Archives
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2627/neverland.fig
April 15th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
“Conscious Pilot” by Zandergriff Miggs & the Parliament of Owls.
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2978/conscious-pilot.fig
April 15th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Suicide Bride- Single by Whispers to the Fallen http://www.figment.cc/albums/2878/suicide-bride-single.fig
April 15th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Self titled by Dollhouse in Black
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2610/self-titled.fig
April 16th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Double Jointed by Manifold Spaceport
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2940/double-jointed.fig
April 19th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
“Somber” by Dollhouse in Black
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2762/somber.fig
April 21st, 2010 at 1:12 pm
“Girls, Guitars, & Ganja” by Stoned Ambition
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2713/girls-guitars-ganja.fig
April 21st, 2010 at 1:16 pm
“Rock n’ Roll Junkie II” by Firecharged!
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2887/rock-n-roll-junkie-ii.fig
April 25th, 2010 at 2:21 am
The Best Of Devil’s Playground
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2619/the-best-of.fig
April 25th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
“Before You Know It (EP) by Salmonella
http://figment.cc/albums/3022/before-you-know-it-ep.fig
April 27th, 2010 at 11:56 am
“Stealing The Sun” by Shane Osiris
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2967/stealing-the-sun.fig
April 28th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Greatest Hits: A Rockin’ Blast To The Past by Stonekrank
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2516/greatest-hits-a-rockin-blast-to-the-past.fig
April 30th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Stone Cold Fox (single) by Firecharged!
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2578/stone-cold-fox-single.fig
May 3rd, 2010 at 6:52 pm
“The Broken Hour” by DeathBreth:
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2970/the-broken-hour.fig
May 7th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
“Mr. Grim” by KARKASS
http://www.figment.cc/albums/3061/mr-grim.fig
May 7th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
“It’s Never Sayonara” by The Forgotten Falling. http://www.figment.cc/albums/2841/its-never-sayonara.fig
May 9th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
“Love Is A Funny Thing (Single)” by Stonefly 45
http://www.figment.cc/home/viewalbum.fig?id=3056
May 10th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
White Angel by Gravestompers http://www.figment.cc/albums/2958/white-angel.fig
May 12th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
‘Systema’ by Obsidian Paradox
http://www.figment.cc/albums/3084/systema.fig
May 13th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
The Virtue of Fools by Fitchburg Subdivision
http://www.figment.cc/albums/3080/the-virtue-of-fools.fig
May 13th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Ear Candy by Doll House Girls
http://www.figment.cc/albums/3083/ear-candy.fig
May 15th, 2010 at 12:29 am
‘Cryptonomicon’ single by Zeroth
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2717/cryptonomicon-single.fig
May 16th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Bl@ck R3B3L 2 by Drifter http://www.figment.cc/albums/2702/blck-r3b3l-2.fig
May 17th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
SeXtasy by The Nymphomaniacs http://figment.cc/albums/3074/sextasy.fig
May 23rd, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Summer 2010 Sampler by TooMuchTooYoungTooFast Records http://www.figment.cc/albums/3113/summer-2010-sampler.fig
May 25th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
“Sing” (Carpenters cover) by Stonekrank http://www.figment.cc/albums/3114/sing-carpenters-cover.fig
May 28th, 2010 at 6:36 am
“Haunted” by Dollhouse in Black
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2881/haunted.fig
June 1st, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Chapter 4: Rags To Riches by The Phony Fakers http://www.figment.cc/home/viewalbum.fig?id=3128
June 2nd, 2010 at 7:26 am
Daemon by The Angel’s Sin
http://www.figment.cc/albums/3154/daemon.fig
June 3rd, 2010 at 12:10 am
Down The Owsley Hole by Zandergriff Miggs & the Parliament of Owls
http://www.figment.cc/home/viewalbum.fig?id=3162
June 3rd, 2010 at 9:05 am
‘Reconstructing The Truth’ by Crashing Institute
http://www.figment.cc/albums/2779/reconstructing-the-truth.fig
June 4th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
“Bloodsoaked Vengeance” by Sleeping Through The Apocalypse http://www.figment.cc/home/viewalbum.fig?id=3072
June 11th, 2010 at 9:45 am
[...] we selected William Schaff to be our guest judge for this year’s Figment Album Cover Design Contest we knew that he was a talented artist and had produced some incredible album covers for bands like [...]