Many highly acclaimed CD cover designs are based on abstract art. Listen to a piece of music or a full album and get a feel of the type of sound the musicians are creating. Consider if the project should be colorful and exciting, for a rock or orchestral piece, or calming and less color-intense, for an ambient or soothing style. Jason Cass, a graphic designer, uses a six-color spectrum to create his CD covers, as illustrated at Just Creative Designs. Let your subconscious do the work by drawing what you feel as you listen to the music.
The first idea you have might not always be the best. CD covers for musicians, bands and orchestras are not only used to package the CD in something interesting---they help sell the music. A good design can be the difference between a reasonable market uptake and a platinum-selling album. Write down as many different ideas as you can before committing to one or two, then focus on those. This eliminates the less exciting projects from the must-complete projects.
Hip-hop, blues and country albums often use an image of the singer or songwriter to enhance their CD cover designs. It can be interesting and informative to find out about the person behind the songs, but usually this works best if the songs are particularly personal or emotional. Emotions are important during design work, because they can be used to relate to a variety of people, which increases the appeal of a musical CD. Consider the emotional responses others have to a piece of music before settling on the design ideas. A standard CD front cover measures 4.7 by 4.7 inches and a back cover, 4.6 by 6 inches, as described by Canadian Music Artists.
Using or copying other people's work is not acceptable and does not illustrate your talent, but considering previous, successful designs as you do your research is essential if you are going to fit into the marketplace. Also, developing your ideas around the designs of artists you respect can improve your work by enhancing its depth and character. Consider what others have done, look at the colors they use and which techniques they prefer before styling and creating your own, distinctive CD artwork.