HOT CITY ALBUM
BONNIE MCKEE
Graphic Design
Packaging Design
3D Modeling
Motion Design
2024 - 2025
INDEX
Bonnie McKee approached me to develop the artwork and packaging for Hot City, her long awaited album originally developed more than a decade earlier, as well as the covers for its singles. I worked closely with Bonnie to help translate her technicolor vision and maximalist sound into a cohesive visual world.
Drawing inspiration from 80's Miami imagery and borrowing elements from synthwave aesthetics, we decided to build Hot City from the ground up, ensuring the album's visual universe was encapsulated in the world building.
This project was a truly collaborative process, with Bonnie's creative instincts and influences playing a central role in shaping its direction. The result was a visual identity that felt authentic to her artistic vision and the music itself.
REFERENCES
THE PROCESS
FINAL ARTWORK
Bonnie is an incredible visual artist. Even through her songwriting, her ability to transport listeners into the worlds she created became a key inspiration for the album artwork. We knew Hot City managed to contain the sonic experience of the records, so we set out to bring this fictional city to life.
The artwork portrays Bonnie sitting on top of a white Corvette with the city stretching out behind her. I wanted to incorporate elements from her music videos to make the artwork feel like an extension of that world, as if everything took place in this city. I envisioned the entrance to the roller-skating rink from “Jenny’s Got A Boyfriend”, displaying the logo we designed for the video, as well as a movie theater displaying a poster for “SLAY”.
Although these details in the background aren’t immediately visible, I believe they’re what make the world feel real. For fans, discovering these small references adds another layer to the experience by making them feel like they’re already familiar with this place.
BEFORE
AFTER
PROMOTIONAL
MATERIAL
Ahead of the album’s release, Bonnie’s team commissioned a teaser video using the project’s 3D assets. I created a short animation featuring the white Corvette, with the album’s name and release date displayed on its license plate.
We also designed a social media post inspired by 80’s magazine ads, leaning into Bonnie’s campy sense of humor with the image of the Corvette sinking in a swimming pool.
LOGO
I designed a custom logo for Hot City that complemented the album's retro visual direction. The logo became a recurring element across the album's campaign and promotional material, along with its different variants.
PHYSICAL RELEASES
We created CD and Vinyl releases for the project, ensuring the packaging design felt cohesive with the artwork and further immersed the audience into Hot City.
DIGITAL RELEASE
The artwork was also adapted for digital distribution of the live concert recording across different streaming platforms.
Apple Music unused motion artwork
