EP Artwork

The Setting Sun (2015)
The Superjesus

In 2015, Aussie rock band The Superjesus released their digital EP The Setting Sun. The brief called for subtle references to 1980s Japanese culture, incorporating a hand-drawn sketch by lead singer Sarah McLeod, a very simple depiction of a sun setting over water.

I initially explored geometric compositions, layered vector elements, and experimental blending techniques to interpret the brief. Executing the artwork entirely in Adobe Illustrator rather than Photoshop, was a deliberate constraint, pushing me to achieve depth and texture through purely vector means. Drawing from the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, I built complexity through subtle, incremental layers that formed a cohesive whole.

In contrast, I developed a second, more minimal direction that ultimately became the final artwork. This stripped-back approach aligned more closely with the original sketch, embracing simplicity and clarity over layered detail. The minimalist direction was selected for its stronger alignment with both the artist’s vision and the EP’s tonal shift. The result reflected a broader Japanese aesthetic philosophy focusing on balance, restraint, and emotional clarity rather than visual excess.

The final design resonated with the tone of the EP itself, which adopted a more spacious and restrained musical direction compared to the band’s earlier work, creating a cohesive link between the visual identity and the music.