D. Norsen Design

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Waltham, MA
D. Norsen Design

Art Director & Designer. Inspiration & personal work. Clients: Jerry Garcia Estate, Light in the Attic, Aquarium Drunkard ... etc.

06/04/2026

More from the ‘rejected’ folders - again don’t take my silence that I am sitting around spinning on my thumb. That’s certainly not the case as there is a lot going on at all times. Even the intern project manager is thinking about quitting. That said, in early 2025 reached out asking if I could spin some new ideas on the iconic 1977 Led Zeppelin tour albeit still using the blimp and/or the band’s own plane ‘The Starship’. I’ll be honest I love both of these designs to death as they feel like they could live easily in the crowd of Heavy Metal Parking Lot. Simple, classic but cool. They made the pitch deck but sadly didn’t get chosen. Color me dazed and confused but hey hey what can I do yet stoked to have even been tapped to create them.

05/21/2026

New work for and - “The Kinks Scrapbook - 1964-1971” which is a bonus book of memorabilia and vintage ads in the deluxe edition of Andrew’s recent “The Kinks - All Day And All of the Night” book that collects all the fine details of The Kinks day-to-day of the same time period. Admittedly I did not finish the design of this book as my kids would say ‘I crashed out’ when Auggie rhe intern creative director passed in the middle of it and I just emotionally could not finish it even though I love The Kinks. But the couple weeks I did spend with the wealth of imagery was incredible and I tried to lay it out in a sort of ‘chaotic’ way that a fan would of have done back in the day. These are a few of my fav spreads though there is countless more. The deluxe edition is still available for sale at !

05/20/2026

New work for / “July 3, 1966 - Fillmore Auditorium; San Francisco, CA”. 3lp + etching/2cd. It is with utmost excitement that I get to share this project as I have been patiently quiet, brain bubbling and sitting on my hands for months now. I have wanted to do a Grateful Dead album package since I was a teen decorating my Dead tapes with crude interpretations of their legendary iconography. And if we have spent any time together talking the Dead you know how much I love primal Dead (‘65-69) so to be asked to do this package around an era I know like the back of my skeleton hand is a real honor. First I wanted it to look like a poster of that era. Second I wanted it to sit comfortably on a shelf nuzzled next to the S/T and Anthem of the Sun and not look out of place. Finally I wanted it to take iconic American iconography and tweak it with Dead-isms - like a true prankster. So I present to you the ‘Acid Liberty’ - Mortuis Confidimus (We Trust the Dead). I have so much to say about this package but at time I will let the pictures do the talking but so many thanks to and Dorothy S. for all their help in the process and trusting me to deliver something unique and timeless. Also Jesse Jarnow for his incredible notes and for hearing me out on the merch ideas. It’s a thrill. An honor. And so much more - beyond words and what I can share here. I only hope I get to do it again. #1966

05/18/2026

New merch work for - The P*ss Rope shirt. There was actually a busier, weirder version of this design that existed and was pitched to the band a couple years ago. But it sank with a resounding ‘pass’ and went back into the archives until earlier this year when I revisited it - scaled it back and let it just breathe a bit more. Sometimes less is more especially in this case. Available for order now - you could wear it to your summer family BBQs this summer and be the weird dude at the party with a p*ss shirt. You (loveable) freak, you.

05/16/2026

Field trip report - caught at the Hope Church in JP tonight with many thanks to for finally bringing them to town. I don’t know what I can say here that I or many others haven’t said before but listening to NIS brings me to a space of meditative harmony like Don Cherry, Sun Ra, Coltrane(s) have done before. Their albums are always close by in the office serving as ear and mind openers at all hours of the day/week/month/year. So seeing them again this evening was the balm on what has been a stressful last couple weeks. I feel like I can move forward and be free again. So thank you Josh, Lisa, and Jason. Also thanks to who has had me help with the design of the last few albums. Please come back sooner than later.

05/14/2026

New work for and ‘Movin’ with Nancy’ lp/cd. Funded by RC Cola (cue NRBQ in your head) in 1967 ‘Movin’ is the soundtrack to the hour long tv special with special guests including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr and other friends and family. Using her own cars, wardrobe and home this is Nancy at her most DIY and with more creative control than usual. This marks the 10th release in the Nancy reissue campaign and again it features an interview between producer and Nancy that digs deep into the story behind the album along with a wealth of unseen until now images. As always it’s a lot of fun to work on these projects for such an icon!

05/13/2026

New work for - ‘12 Golden Country Greats’ 3lp/3cd/cassette. You b*tched, they were listening - continuing what was started by the ‘Chocolate and Cheese’ 3lp in 2024 this reissue triples the amount of tracks surrounding this legendary album that spun fans into a frenzy of WTF did my favorite band make in 1996 and continues to do so today. I would be lying if I didn’t share this is my favorite Ween album. It contains several of my favorite songs that I go back to often especially P*ss Up A Rope (I will share the shirt I made for this tomorrow) and Mister Richard Smoker when my mood is sour and I need a good cheer me up. I know a lot of you are going to ask about the Ali speech - sadly it was not restored. tried his damnedest but some things are just not meant to be but JFC he dug deep and brought an insane stash of unheard tracks to the modern times. He even got to wax deeply about the sessions which a lot of lore has surrounded for three decades now. As for the artwork myself with and found a series of paintings that we felt like complimented the original artwork coupled with candid shots from the sessions courtesy of Ben. This project in some aspects was ‘difficult’ as it being of my fav albums ever I was very serious about doing it right and not f*cking it up. There was some early ideas (including a p***y dribble page) that got left on the cutting room floor as while it was funny it didn’t fit the mood set by the original package which was uniquely stark in all the best ways. So anyways long ramble short - it’s available for preorder now. The way these new Ween releases have been disappearing I wouldn’t suggest waiting too long or you will be washing your balls with a warm wet rag of disappointment.

05/12/2026

Since sharing your ‘failures’ results in more likes than new projects that are physically made - here is another batch from the archives so I can keep my timeline full of ads and threads recommendations. This time more shirts for ‘Saviors’ album. I THINK these were created for a licensing pitch deck - ie. Spencer’s, Hot Topic … etc so it’s possible these actually existed in 2024/5 and I totally didn’t see them because I was too busy looking at the black light posters in the back of the stores instead of checking for my work. Hey that’s life baby! I think all of these are pretty great in using bits and pieces of the album artwork while also adding some elements of my own. TOMORROW WE ARE BACK TO OUR NORMAL FEED WITH A BIG ONE.

05/08/2026

More from the ‘rejected’ digital folders - it may appear quiet around here but I assure you my head has been down the last few months in a near panic of deadlines and a questionable/concerning caffeine addiction. So needless to say I can’t share stuff until it’s announced which isn’t good for the lords of the timeline interaction. Until then here are a few Creedence Clearwater Revival designs that didn’t happen in 2024. I especially like the first one but a las too bold for boomers that are afraid of seeing ghosts when hitting their v**e pens at the local top 40 cover band gig at their local craft brewery.

05/03/2026

Field report - I don’t know how I go forward seeing large concerts without comparing it to the last 3 days in Las Vegas for . I feel indebted to for inviting myself, and as this experience was a creative mind melt to witness in person. From the moment you walk into the Sphere it is truly one of the most epic venues to experience a concert. It’s daunting, yet strangely feels small and intimate. Maybe it’s deceiving in that you are being stimulated from all angles - from the visuals above to the band on the stage to the bass rumble packs under your butt. I understand Phish is not many folks thing but having seen them off and on for nearly 30 years now I can say these are by far some of my favorite shows I have been present at. Certainly company made it grand too - lots of new and old friends. We were spoiled to be in 205 all three nights. The energy was intoxicating and contagious often times I found myself just in awe that this career I carved out for myself has such perks. I need to punch/pinch myself sometimes to remember that this isn’t a normal career and to be surrounded by a group of friends like this is the greatest perk of them all. Stupid amount of thanks to Patrick and the Phish org. Can’t wait to do it again!

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Waltham, MA
02451

Telephone

(857) 540-6564

Website

http://www.dnorsen.com/

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