How Designers Get Influenced by MusicListThumbs
How Designers Get Influenced by Music
Music is a very important aspect in design. It can influence your thoughts, ideas, movements & so much more. I had a talk with 10+ awesome designer & Illustrator like Pete Harrison and discussed this topic. Plus you will get some tips about how to use music.
For me music is very close together with design. Most of my design ideas come while listening to music. Beats and melody set the mood of my images and lyrics and speed influence my movements when designing. There is no way I can design wihtout music. It also motivates me and entertains when the im bored painting.
I decided to gather some opinions and ask several top designer how they got influenced and touched by music. Im happy that I got some really good artists who have been working in the design scene for a couple of time and really know what they are talking about. I asked every one the same question.
"How does music inspire you and what music do you listen to, while designing?"
Falsify
website http://www.sa3s.com
To me music is the single biggest inspiration for my art. Whilst designing I listen to things like Commix, Massive Attack and other electronical music. I like digital soundscapes with dark rolling b-lines that build crazy worlds in my head layer by layer. A few months ago whilst listening to Leftfield I had a surge of ideas for a short illustrated story that I am currently working on, these moments are pure gold dust. The hardest part is trying to recreate these feelings and visuals as I see them with my minds eye. This is the running battle...'
Magomed Dovjenko
website http://iammago.com/
Music inspires me in any aspect - it sets the mood of my work when working while listening to music, it's inspiring the colors and the overall look of my work. Most of the time I listen to Rap/Hip-hop - like Jay-Z, Kanye West, Cassidy, Young Jeezy ,Lil Wayne and so on.I can't work without listening to music - it's just much more fun when you hear those beats banging while you're creating.
Anton Shineft
website http://clor.net
It seems to me, that music and visual art are inseparable parts. As soon as something new and interesting appears in music, styles, directions - the great number of works of modern artists, representing these changes appears. Music is the best help for imagination. I am very inspired by the spirit of such projects as Flying lotus, Fever ray, AFTA 1, Toro Y moi, Lone. In my opinion, that’s a one of the icons of todays zeitgeist. It all reminds me of the presentation of modern people focused on the interaction with the spiritual world. You can clearly see rhythm and direction. It helps me understand some streams.
Rik Ooestenbrooek
website http://nkeo.deviantart.com/
I cant design without music, music gives me the rest I need while working on a piece. The Type of music depends on the mood I'm in. Back in the days while I made lots of colourfull photomanip's mixed with abstract I used to listen to Vocal trance. The colours I use are basicly based on the type of music I listen. Less colour means more emotive beats, more colour means happy songs"
Robert Shields
website http://www.robshields.net/
Personally I am obsessed with finding and buying new music every week but I often design in silence. The inspiration I get from music often has more to do with the emotional content or a message that I remember. There is also a coolness factor that comes from music which helps me gauge whether or not an idea I have is over played. Otherwise I don't really feel that the territories exactly overlap. It'd be like saying I have to look at a beautiful picture every time I try to write a song. To me that's really not what its about.
ABOVE
website: http://goabove.com
"Music is an extremely crucial aspect of my day to day life. Not only when I am creating artworks but when I am grocery shopping, digging ditches, or skydiving, music always helps. When I create artworks I aim to have the music X3 times as loud as the high powered electrical tool I use. Table saws can be loud but my James Brown Funk, or Acid Trance House music always sing louder. Sometimes I get carried away and start dancing while I'm painting which can make for some interesting artworks to say the least. I'd rather be deaf than blind, but not being able to hear while looking at live music would be suicidal. I am greatful I still have my 5-senses."
Keith Garrison
website http://www.behance.net/NoirMaybe
Just like most other things in my workspace, I consider music a "tool" of sorts. A lot of times I find it to distracting and can't start or work on a project with it. Other times I need it to give me that boost of energy or keep me from being distracted by my environment. Most of the time I just need it to get in that sort of "Trance" where I barely notice the world around me and soon forget the music is even there.
From Ryan Clark, Invisible Creature
website http://www.invisiblecreature.com
Music is inspiring to me in many ways. It's inspiring to hear people create new and interesting things, and that stimulates my desire to create things of my own, be it something visual or something musical. Music can inspire me subconsciously, playing in the background while I work, and it can also influence me in very specific ways, if I listen intentionally. Sometimes I'll listen to music that may directly correlate to something I'm designing, but ordinarily I just listen to something based on my current mood. Brit pop/rock (ie: Elbow, Doves, The National, White Lies, Editors) is usually the first thing I go to.
Pete Harrison
website: http://www.aeiko.net/
I listen to a variety of music..and music is always on when im designing. Usually its something fast like drum and bass..something to keep me ticking, recently a lot of hospital stuff - London Elek, High contrast, Mistabishi, Logi, Danny byrd etc...but I also love faster stuff such as Spor, Sigma, Fresh, Sub Focus..its background music but keeps me working, especially in the early hours. I also love chillout and ambient sounds, for example the Desktopography albums, Tycho, Enya, BOC, Nuuro and Freshcut. Sometimes the piece that im working on can influence the taste in music, and I will try and get into the mood of what im designing at the time and just roll from there, feeling the flow.
Alex Beltechi
http://www.behance.net/alexbeltechi
Music and Design are two faces of the same coin for me. An image is something you see, and music is something you hear, though I use both to communicate a message. Just as I appreciate and create images, I listen to and compose music. Nevertheless, I see design as my career and music as my passion. The tablet is my job and the piano key is my hobby, though I do enjoy both very much. I also tend to be critical on both. When I see a poster, I sort of critique it in my head. The same applies for music, and you'd be surprised to see that design principles apply to music as well. They really are one and the same thing, so it's no surprise that so many designers get involved in music, or at least feel a special connection to it.
I usually listen to music when I design, because it drives and inspires me. My music choice is usually a range of classical, neoclassical, movie soundtracks or solo piano music.
Perttu Murto
website http://www.perttumurto.com/
I usually listen music always when I work. It's kind a part of the design project in my opinion! It is a great way to close "the other world" on my mind while I work and helps me concentrate 110% on the artwork itself. I kind a like all kind of music (except R'n'B!) so it's up to my own mood what I am listening while working. It could be really hard rock or some chill out electro stuff. It doesn't really effect to the out come, it just have to be good music! Good music is always inspiring!"
Where to listen to music
It sometimes appears that everything in your music library you heared thousands of times and you need fresh new stuff or it appears that you dont even have a music library. Well, thanks to the internet there are several ways to get some audible inspiration. There are online music services such as Deezer or Lala, which are really good. My favourite is Grooveshark where you add the song you'd like to listen to, to a current playlist and it's really fast.
And now it is your part to tell us what music do you listen to? And how does the music inspire you? Place a comment and I am happy.
62 Comments
cool :D i`m inspired by daft punk
Music is one of those interesting platforms that can sometimes be the source behind good design, I think it allows us to just escape into another reality and let our imaginations run wild..
Personnellement je donne des titres de chansons que j'aime à mes créations.
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http://hybrid-creation.deviantart.com/
i cant create without music, even though i dont realyl listen to it i like to have something in teh background keeping my movement going or else i get stuck and sit there. at least with music i can keep a fluid motion throughout my work. I prefer to use Pandora radio, but i havent tried grooveshark yet
Great article! I cannot do anything at all in silence (except sleep). music makes the world seem more active and engaging, which then translates into the work I am doing.
love this post! :)
I totally love it. Am inspired, i go to try these for my works.
Muchas Gracias!
I like all your posts, but you seriously need to improve on your English. I'd be glad to edit for you, so please contact me if you consider it.
Cheers!
Great article! Love the different, individual takes on music and how it applies to the artist's work. I wrote a similar article with my own view of how music is such a vital part of my designing process. Check it out if you get the chance. Thanks!
http://genevadesigns.net/2009/11/music-and-my-graphic-design/
Great job!! My favorite genres when I'm working are: Rock (green day, blink 182, rolling stones), EmoCore (silverstein, hawthorne heights, breaking benjamin, linkin park) and Jazz (jamie cullum and frank zappa)
Keep posting!
This post is completely true, almost all of my work is based on all types of genres and artists. So interesting to see how different people react to it through art.
Afta-1 is my god.
great article on how music can influence design. One of my great friends is a producer, so I have to say you are definitely on point that the music can set the mood for your design. very cool thought!
LOVE the Robert Shields one
Love this post.....music and design is my life and soul! Can't have one without the other
So true, i listen to the same playlist every time im on my computer!
what a post..lol
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www.contestdesigns.com
design contests for cash pizes!!!
Really nice to see Paul Kalkbrenner's photo on title :)
i always try to bring german touch into the site
Of course designer and his works are influenced by music. I'm designer / musician, who wants to know the sound of my band: http://www.myspace.com/oldtruckrock. I post in my blog articles about bands: http://nformasdesign.com/blog/?cat=29
Interesting, I agree with many of the people here. Music is a in a way a type of design. I think this post will remind me to listen to music more often when I get stuck. :P
And that grooveshark site is very nice, thanks for posting. :)
Grooveshark all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! since early 2009!
Very interesting, cool post!
http://emeyers399.deviantart.com/
I agree, I love my music. And when I'm designing, it definitely influences me. I sometimes pick a song, before even thinking about what I'm about to design, and just let it play on repeat to inspire me.
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http://www.its-cm.com
Music and Design, in my opinion, go hand in hand. I love nice indie music like grizzly bear, foals, passion pit, band of horses, The album Leaf. I cant believe what music has turned into. All music is today is synthetic voices, and computer made instruments. What happened america!
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www.behance.net/johnmark
Depending on my mood. I got some vocal trance when I'm happy. Acoustics when I'm working on a photo that has a light concept. I also listen to jazz when the the mood I'm into requires that kind of song. Bottom line, I listen to what my mood tells me to listen to, then I create an art out of what I feel. The music is a tool to maintain my emotion, and in turn it will maintain my idea. I will not get lost or forgot my concept, or stray too far from it.
This is the post 've been waiting for. Totally true!! :)
yeah totally agree tat music influences us in the way we design. i listen to indie music Arctic monkeys, seabear etc......... some hope i dont really know y but my designs tend to be retro. i love the vintage feel and when i listen to indie music i feel the same way
If you want to use grooveshark, definately take a look at Fluid for mac os. Also heres a replacement icon I use with it:
http://mactyler.deviantart.com/art/Grooveshark-Icon-for-Fluid-142861583
I can't design without music. It just feels empty. Music connects me with my work and takes me places. I listen to music that has no words. every designers knows this that when you are creating you feel you are out of this world and do your magic. Music makes it easier to go there. GREAT POST
I always listen to music, designing or not, it always inspires me in life. I usually listen to either chill music like Emancipator (TIP) or things like Drum 'N Bass. Thanks for this article, found some new music too :p
I enjoyed this little thesis. You are right; but then, I'm also Hermetic and internalised, as well as externalised. The amplitude of sound waves are heavy, or low-frequency, vibrations (a negative polarity, but positive in its own right) while the amplitude of light waves is light, or high-frequency, vibration (which would therefore seem to be a positive polarity, but also negative in its own right - both concepts depend from which perspective you decide to look at them, obviously) interlinked; between the sonic of sound and the speed, transmission, and 'relayability' of light; so they tie up indiscrimitely as our senses also seem to within our brains. Sound and vision (although I try to stay away from too much Tell I Vision, if I can; unless it's to be informed.x
Hola a todos!!! I really recomend Silvio Rodriguez, Pedro Guerra, Morcheeba, Bob Marley, Luis Eduardo Aute, Ismael Serrano, Caetano Veloso, Mercedes Sosa, wooooowww, they are so many, es que hay demasiaaados buenos artistas, too much good music to listen to and to find inspiration while designing. David Gray, Neil Armstrong, Fela Cuti, Joaquin Sabina y Fito Paez (toguether or separated), Haitian Music (Palos)... Chill Out.... etc.
I think music is a source of ideas. You can have a lot of ideas just listening to any music and paying attention to the lyrics. Great article.
Love this article . The type of work i make really depends on the type of music i listen to at that time . And i think electro music works best :D
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http://chermayneshenli.blogspot.com
http://di.fm/ for the last 4 years! Good article and very true.
I also love Grooveshark and when i'm into designing some websites I'm listen to the very nice mid90s Indierock stuff like Pavement, Sebadoh or Sonic Youth ... very nice.
Word, Aloa, word. Great article.
thanks man. I appreciate that.
Excellent post. I really can't live without music.
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http://www.thepeachdesign.com
http://1971dsgn.tumblr.com/ :-)
It's really interesting to learn how a collection of designers feel about music and how it influences there work and gives them inspiration. Personally i find it hard to design in silence and like to have music or the radio on in the background at work, this subconsciously enhances my mood and possibly my designs. But i do believe that music and design are closely linked, and if a new trend is discovered in the music world then it is quickly reflected in the design industry this may be partly because of album artwork and the direct link that it gives to both industries.
www.spotify.se
If youre eager to get an invitation, the search for one is totally worth it. Im not gonna explain what it is, just go to the site.
Lots of music, thats for shure.
My inspirations is 80's music...
Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Clan of Xymox, Morrisey, The Cure, Joy Division, Bauhaus, New Order and etc...
Drum'n'Bass represent!!!
I like designing to metal, 90's alt., a splash of dance, and country.
What a wonderful and inspiring post :)
Thanks a lot!!
Great article!! I always turn to music for my design inspiration. It all depends on what type of design I want to make. Then I choose the music.
Kate Bush (Hounds & The Dreaming!) for the most creative type of designs.
@Fábio Badaró - Great choices!
"The hardest part is trying to recreate these feelings and visuals as I see them with my minds eye."
Wow, this sums up perfectly a problem I am struggling with all the time. I often get my best ideas when I'm half asleep.
Electronic music also works fine for me, Massive Attack and Frisky Radio never fail.
It's fun to compare the styles of the various designers along with their preferred music :)
Really cool article, loud music whilst working helps me get in the right frame of mind
Music is very important to me as a designer - in fact, my last font package was designed entirely by listening to one band (and other projects of the band members).
Details here: http://mehallo.com/blog/archives/274
Could not work without good tracks to design by. Even keep a music player on my blog to click on when things get too quiet.
After a creative hiatus, I was overcome with ideas after a rather exceptional playlist (if I do say so myself) inspired by stress. Listening to music is better than Ritalin. And possibly Valium.
I was totally thinking about writing a post like this. Good job! I listen to Metallica and a lot of death metal. Then for a change or depending what I'm working on, I listen to House music on Pandora. Pandora rocks!
You can find great music arranged on your moods on www.stereomood.com ! it rocks!
You should check www.stereomood.com for great music inspiration. You can find various playlists arranged on your moods, it rocks!!
(sry for double posting ! )
HA HA Tonka, Alberta Cross and the French Kicks are my tops
la musica y el diseño para mi es fundamental. te lleva a un estado de animo que inconcientemente influye en el momento de pensar un idea y de diseñarla. La música es fundamental para crear un clima y estado emocional para la mente y así poder ideas muy creativas, es un disparador a la creacion. Despues para diseñar y producir un diseño la musica acompaña para que sea mas copado el tiempo que a uno le lleve hacer el trabajo.
Nice article. It's interesting to read about how music effects others' creativity. I have an eclectic mix and it all depends on my mood at the moment but the one constant is that there is always music on.
This was an awesome article!
I love music too and found a lot of new music to try here!
Great images too!
Cathy
Forgot to put this link in my earlier comment...
http://www.myspace.com/jamisieberoutfrontmusic
http://www.myspace.com/jamisieber
Great music to work to and she is an awesome person too!
I produce concerts in another life and Jami is a very inspirational and dynamic live performer! Catch a show if you can..she tours all over the world!
I most got inspired by Paul Kalkbrenner, the one which is to see in the „Intro-Illustration-Picture“ (?!) ... love the music of this guy!
When I'm working in several designs, my inspiration is trance. Since there are various kinds of trance, you can set up the right tune with your mood or work. The best tipes of trance are Uplifting Trance and Euro-Trance. I really do recommend to at least try listening to Aly & Fila, Above & Beyond, Dereck Recay, Dj Doboy. Great article, +10.
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