Reginleif Descent

Client | Reginleif: In their words, a “post-rock inspired viking jazz” band based out of Cleveland, Ohio.

Design Problem | Create a CD album booklet complete with custom illustrations for Descent, an instrumental album recorded in Cumberland Caverns, TN. Use the existing rune logo, but add a viking vibe to it and the rest of the booklet that plays well with the band’s eclectic sound. Communicate directly with printer for specifications.

My Role | Illustrations for songs, booklet design and layout, CD/DVD label design, and shirt design.

click pages to flip through book

click pages to flip through book

Design
Inspiration

With the band’s lead being a cellist involved in medieval living history, I loved the idea of including the wood carvings found on the Urnes Stave Church with the curves of a cello. I chose colors I found in the photos Reginleif provided from the day they recorded the album that I thought reflected the calm and earthy feeling of the music.

photo of carvings from urnes stave church

Carvings from Urnes Stave Church. Photo by Micha Rieser.

photo of guitarist of reginleif in cave

James Thaddeus Dalakas, guitarist, Reginleif. Photo by Ben Barr.

Illustration
Inspiration

For my drawings, I embraced the cartoonish, often comical style found in medieval tapestries and illuminations. There is also a beautiful aspect to designs found on migration-era art. I have an obsession for the way the artisans of the Torslunda Plates and the Bayeux Tapestry depict hands.

weapon dance design image from Torslunda Plates

Weapon dance design from Torslunda Plates

image of pen pointing from Bayeux Tapestry

Scene from Bayeux Tapestry

painting of vikings in ship on the sea

Viking scene from 10th century manuscript

Creative Process

I started by experimenting with the dramatic, high-contrast, and almost gritty black-and-white aesthetic found in almost all of the band’s preexisting content. First drafts of album pages and greyscale sketchbook scans illustrate the progression from that look to the current decisions.

scan of work in progress ink drawing of a fjord
image showing a viking helmet and reginleif's thank you message
image of reginleif logo painted on an old weathered wooden table surface

  • My very own printed copy✨

  • Spilling the lamp oil is not a good time, bud.

  • Everyone loves a t-shirt

  • Every day without cello-shaped text is a day wasted, imo 🩶

  • My favorite drawrring of them all

  • artist holding album and wearing sweatshirt

    MERCH MERCH MERCH

  • Moody 2014-era Instagramable merch shot

image of designer thinking and reflecting

Final Thoughts

I am proud of the way I was able to merge the competing vibes of this eclectic band. If I were to do this project over again, I would have given myself more time to in nature with my sketchpad and headphones to maximize good vibes. I also would have made the images much lighter before printing. Overall it was one of my favorite freelance projects, ever.

image of Shelby from Reginleif smiling in viking age clothing

Client Feedback

“I came to Daina with a very unique project. Not only did she take the time to fully understand the project, she also delivered a beautifully crafted and professional final product.”
- Shelby Sangdahl, Cellist
Reginleif

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