Designing 1960s Album Covers

Overview

This 50-minute session engages Year 9 students in exploring the visual culture of the 1960s through designing a bespoke album cover. Students will develop their understanding of graphic design principles, visual communication, and historical context relevant to the 1960s music scene. This lesson aligns with the National Curriculum for England for Art and Design, supporting creative, critical thinking and technical skills.

National Curriculum Links

Key stage 3 Art and Design Programmes of Study:
- Developing ideas – “use a variety of sources, including the study of artists’ work, to develop their own ideas”
- Master techniques – “use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination”
- Take inspiration from the greats – “learn about the diverse roles and functions of art, craft and design, including contemporary and earlier periods.”
Enhances cross-curricular literacy skills relevant to critical analysis and description of artistic intention.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Analyse the key visual styles and cultural themes prevalent in 1960s album cover art.
Apply graphic design elements (colour, typography, composition) to create an original album cover concept.
Reflect on how their design communicates the music genre and cultural mood of the 1960s.
Employ iterative sketching techniques to develop and refine their ideas.

Resources Needed

Projector and speaker to show examples
Sketchbooks or drawing paper
Pencils, erasers, coloured markers/pencils
Rulers and compasses
Printed worksheet with album cover template and key 1960s design motifs
Colour swatches or digital palette for 1960s colour schemes

Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (5 mins)

Show a slideshow of iconic 1960s album covers (e.g., The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s, Jimi Hendrix Are You Experienced?).
Ask students: What styles and colours do you notice? What cultural or musical ideas do these covers communicate?
Brief group discussion to share observations, focusing on psychedelic art, pop art influences, font styles, and symbolism.

2. Introduction & National Curriculum Context (5 mins)

Explain the learning objectives and relevance to KS3 art: connecting historical cultural study with practical design skills.
Highlight links to creative processes and artist study goals in the curriculum.

3. Main Activity: Design Brief & Sketching (30 mins)

Task: Create an original 1960s-inspired album cover for a fictional music band using classic 1960s elements.

Step 1 (10 mins): Mood Board Creation – Students quickly sketch or note imagery, typography styles, and colour schemes typical of the 1960s. They may use simple shapes and symbolic motifs (peace signs, swirling patterns, hand-drawn fonts).
Step 2 (15 mins): Thumbnail Sketches – Students produce 2-3 small concept sketches, experimenting with composition, balance between image and text, and graphic impact. Encourage exploration of colour contrasts and font style ideas (bubble font, psychedelic type).
Step 3 (5 mins): Peer Feedback – In pairs, students share their sketches, discuss what works well in communicating the 1960s vibe, and suggest improvements.

Teachers circulate to support technical skills and encourage creative risks.

4. Plenary & Assessment (10 mins)

Ask volunteers to present one of their sketches to the whole class, explaining how their design reflects 1960s culture and music style.
Discuss as a class how graphic design choices influence the viewer's perception of music.
Self-assessment: Students write a brief sentence about what they learned about 1960s design and how it helped them generate ideas.
Teacher Assessment Focus: creativity, application of design elements, historical awareness, and reflective skills.

Differentiation

Support: Provide pre-printed templates for sketching outlines or simpler motifs; model example sketches.
Challenge: Encourage use of more complex composition ideas or mixed media (collage elements) for students ready to extend their skills.

Opportunities for Further Learning

Homework: Research a 1960s band and design a second album cover digitally or using collage techniques.
Integration with Music or History: Explore 1960s cultural movements and how they influenced visual art.

Teacher Reflection Notes

Note pupil engagement with historical context to inform their creativity.
Observe if students make creative connections beyond obvious motifs, potentially developing individual style roots from 1960s inspiration.
Consider follow-up projects that deepen graphic design or cultural studies.

This lesson plan is designed to meet the National Curriculum’s aim of fostering creativity through historical context, practical skill application, and critical reflection — an exciting gateway into 1960s art and design for Year 9 learners.

Teaching Instructions