Overview
Mudcat, a celebrated Atlanta-based blues musician known for his masterful slide guitar and deep southern roots, was preparing to release a new album. He already had stunning hand-drawn artwork by illustrator Ginger Michelle Collins-McGee but needed help turning the raw art into a polished, print-ready layout for distribution.
Challenge
The album’s line art was beautifully expressive but required careful positioning and layout to ensure it translated well to physical and digital formats. The goal was to let the illustration breathe—keeping the design simple and centered on the music and art, without unnecessary clutter or heavy-handed design flourishes.
Approach
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Collaboration: Worked closely with Mudcat (Danny) to understand his vision and respect the minimalist aesthetic of the artwork
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Design Execution: Imported and positioned Ginger’s line art in Adobe Photoshop, exploring multiple layout options that retained the natural, hand-drawn character
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Iteration: Provided several visual comps, experimenting with spacing, type alignment, and white space until we found a version that felt balanced and clean
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Finalization: Delivered production-ready files optimized for both print and streaming platforms, ensuring fidelity to the original art
Outcome
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Delivered a final layout that honored the simplicity and soul of both the artwork and the music
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Maintained a timeless, roots-focused aesthetic that aligned with Mudcat’s rich musical identity
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Contributed to the visual storytelling of the album in a way that complemented the auditory experience
Reflection
This project was a reminder that good design isn’t always about adding more—it’s often about making space for the right things to shine. Collaborating with Mudcat on this release was an honor, and being part of a legacy rooted in authentic Southern blues made the work especially meaningful.