Stefano Guzzetti and Lilies on Mars
Shine
Design by Chris Bigg
Chris Bigg is a British art director, graphic designer, image maker, calligrapher and educator. He works with clients in the music, entertainment and culture industries and has worked extensively with 4AD, creating album artwork and campaigns for Pixies, The Breeders, GusGus, The Wolfgang Press, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Lush and Belly. We spoke to Chris about developing artwork for Stefano Guzzetti and Lilies on Mars‘ new release, called Shine.
Released on 2020 Editions (2025)
Hello. Please tell us about the brief and commission. Chris Bigg: I’ve been working with Stefano Guzzetti for 10 years. He’s an individual that works on his own, has no record label and is totally independent, only releasing music under his ‘2020 Editions’ imprint (I designed that logo). Design budgets are minimal, it’s all for the love of the art, and he generally gives me artistic freedom. However, there is a collaborative process, as he choses from a number of directions I have developed, which I then refine after feedback.
This ’Shine’ album project is a musical collaboration between Stefano Guzzetti and Lilies on Mars. I knew Stefano’s work from our previous collaborations but not Lilies on Mars. They sent me the album, as I need the sounds and tracks to make work. I VISUALISE SOUND!!
THE MUSIC was the brief, which is a lovely brief. I still enter every project with a little apprehension as I always have that feeling, however established the client, that making the first steps into a project is the hardest. It’s that first page of a sketchbook, the blank page scenario! Every time it feels like I have never done this before. It’s a love hate thing! But something drives you on, because when it does start to work, that magic moment is so lovely, and it’s what all creatives live for.
How did the music inspire the ideation process?
Chris Bigg: When I first listened to the music I tried to imagine colours,
shapes, delicate typography and abstract marks.
What did you research when developing ideas for artwork?Chris Bigg: I have an ongoing interest in new work and I am always looking at photography, art, and typography created by people I know, students and other professionals. I like meeting new people who create work that interests me, and I keep in touch with the many artist whose work I admire and would like to work with one day, if budgets allow! My only connection with the outside world is Instagram and I don’t involve myself with other platforms. I am probably missing out on discovering a lot of fantastic work, but it’s a full time project this social media business. One has to find the time to actually produce the work that is in front of me.
Please share an insight into the design development.
Chris Bigg: The artwork used for the album is by Gary Prendergast (cutshapemake), a fantastic tutor working at the University of Salford. Three years ago he invited me to run a workshop for the Year 1 students and he also showed me his personal work and I was immediately drawn to the piece that we eventually used for this project. I didn’t have a project in mind when I first saw it, but when Stefano commissioned me to work on ‘Shine’ this piece came to mind as it has all the colour and abstract shapes that felt perfect to me.In this digital world there is this thing called ‘lead tracks’ from an album release. Stefano wanted four covers, so four lead tracks, and I wanted to keep a sense of continuity over the set while working around a minimal budget. Gary’s image really worked, as I could divide the larger artwork into four corners, each representing a lead track, finally revealing the album art in its entirety when placed together as a complete set. The image is very wonderfully busy visually and I needed a graphic device to bring the design together. For the purpose of legibility I introduced the black mark making detail to hold the text and to enforce the feeling of a set.
How did you develop the design and how does the final artwork reflect the music?
Chris Bigg: Many visuals were created during the initial creative process and some were refined as we progressed towards an agreed final decision, adding colour to the cover text and mark making shapes. There were a few moments when the design shifted, but all for the best reasons, as colour and abstract shapes were refined to create something mysterious, leaving the viewer and listener to make their own sense of the artwork and music.I always want my work to communicate, be it through text or image, and this project was always about sound textures, layers, colours and lyrics. I believe that behind every successful project is an understanding client who appreciates what I can bring to their vision. I am still learning with every project, how to progress with a chosen direction and how to keep it within your vision. After all, it’s your responsibility to make a successful outcome that satisfies both parties.
Design by Chris Bigg
Image making by Gary Prendergast
Buy ‘Shine’ here
More information: Lilies on Mars, Stefano Guzzetti, Mint 400 Records, Shoredive Records