Ella Güdel Music Album

Personal Project

My Role

Graphic Designer, Illustrator

Problem:

Ella Güdel is a folk singer-songwriter releasing a new album called Sweetbitter. This project was part of a pitch for the album's branding. Güdel's sound is gentle, melancholic, and raw, and her aesthetic draws from nature—earthy tones in her photography and personal style that complement her music perfectly. Her work speaks to queerness and longing.

Solution:

One of the album's lead songs is titled "Sappho," named after the ancient Greek poet from whom sapphic romance takes its name. I built the album's visual identity around Sappho, specifically her lyre, the instrument she is most often depicted holding. I created a simple lyre icon and carried it throughout the merchandise and album branding as a unifying motif.

For the album cover, I created a simple illustration of Güdel, designed to convey longing and melancholy. Soft gradients and organic shapes accentuate the gentleness of her music, while the earthy, textured colours reflect her personal aesthetic. A dark green and black palette allows gold tones to shine through.

For the merchandise, I drew on both the lyre icon and the album title wordmark, producing a range of designs for fans to choose from.

Additional Information

Photo by The Walters Art Museum

Painting by Simeon Solomon