SMAY Design — Phil Yarnall — New York, US

“For me, music is a huge part of my creative process. I always have music playing while I work. I’ll immerse myself in a band’s music while I work on their cover, package or poster and it can be almost meditative as I connect with them through their music and lyrics. Sometimes a phrase or word will jump out as I listen and take me down a design rabbit-hole. Listening to a band helps me fuse sound and visuals into something that’s more than just slapping a logo onto a photo and calling it a day.”

For almost 30 years, Phil Yarnall has been creating design and packaging for the music industry. His studio, SMAY Design, has worked with everyone from Hank Williams and AC/DC to the Jimi Hendrix Estate and the Tedeschi Trucks Band. From designing deluxe box sets to unique tour posters, he is happy to be doing what he wanted to do when he grew up.