Mar
10
Kick Ass Packaging of the Week: Spinal Tap’s ‘Back From the Dead’
Filed Under CD Packaging, DVD Packaging | Leave a Comment
This awesome packaging by Brian Porizek was nominated in the recent Grammy Awards for Best Packaging alongside Sagmeister’s work for Byrne & Eno and four other nominees. Sagmeister bagged the trophy but I should say this one is almost equally remarkable.
What I love most about this CD packaging is that it involves the buyers in the creative process of assembling this beautiful paper art. When you buy it in the store, it looks like a normal-sized digipack.
But when you open the album, Viola!
It unfolds into a quirky cardboard cutout. Awesome!
The cardboard can then be assembled to form a Spinal Tap stage show diorama that looks like this.
It may look a bit complicated but the 3-step instruction card and an easy-to-follow online instructional video makes it much easier.
First you lay everything flat on the table. Then you fold the flaps around inserts in interlocking tabs until each one fits nicely. Once the stadium is properly set-up, you can pull out the 20-page book, DVD, and CD. This collector’s item looks great in any shelf.
All photos are from frolab
Mar
5
Worst Album Covers
Filed Under DVD Packaging | 1 Comment
Last night, I was running low on album cover ideas so I decided to look for great CD covers online hoping for inspiration to hit me before the night ends. As I was lazily fumbling through websites and google images, I stumbled upon some of the most ridiculous CD covers I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. The kinds that make you say WTF?!*@ in falsetto! I would love to have witnessed how these geniuses brainstormed for their marvelous concepts. I do not know most of these artists, I cannot say if the album covers are meant to be parodies, but I spent a whole hour laughing my brains out so It’s definitely worth sharing. Check em out.
Sigh. I dunno where to start.Maybe correcting the placement of his shadow would make a lot of difference.Or changing his wardrobe. Or his god-like pose…And where the hell are his feet?Sigh.
Hi, nice smile you got there. But could you explain to me again why you had your face plastered in a sailboat postcard?Thank you.
What’s next? Baboons, alligators, or ostriches? I’m worried=(
Hmmm.It’s trying to say something profound. Hmmm. Chick and egg.Hmmm.
Definitely the guys who didn’t get the part of Frank N. Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Better idea.Burn your graphic designers first.
Holy Moly!
You can tell that they don’t like their music or each other very much
Oh-lala. Moustache. Check!Water splashing on sexy body. Check!Who would not love his life?
I dare you to stare at their faces for more than 5 seconds without laughing
Mar
4
Kick Ass Packaging of the Week: Byrne & Eno’s Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Filed Under CD Packaging, DVD Packaging | 1 Comment
If you like Vonnegut Dollhouse’s uber cool CD packaging, then it is without a doubt that you will love this,too. I do, I do, I do a million time over! This limited Sagmeister-designed package of David Byrne and Brian Eno’s Everything That Happens Will Happen Today is just so A-W-E-S-O-M-E! In fact, it has convinced me to start collecting unique CD packaging (and why not since I work in this industry anyway).
The package is a white tin can with a little suburban house on it. When you open the can, you can hear a hammering and an old door creaking. The can contains two grassy-looking CDs, a miniature hardbound book, a small capsule, and a dice. I am suffocated by its awesomeness.
All photos from Creative Review
Feb
26
CD Packaging: Tips for Graphic Designers
Filed Under CD Packaging | 5 Comments
Graphic designers play a very important role in making excellent CD Packaging. But talent alone will not make you successful in the CD packaging industry because there are plenty of very talented graphic artists nowadays. In order for you to stand out in the CD Packaging industry, you must not only be good with your hands. You also have to be updated with the latest trends of CD packaging, you have to develop good communication skills with your clients, and more importantly you have to be professional. If you are a new graphic designer who’s venturing in CD Packaging, here are some basic tips and tricks for you to be on top of the game.
Be updated on the latest CD packaging trends
I understand that you are so swamped with work that you barely have time to sip a cup of coffee. With your tight deadlines and demanding clients, who has time to read? If you want to have a steady career in CD packaging and if you want to be happily busy all year-round, you should take time to read up on the latest CD packaging news and trends. It is important that you are updated on the latest technology, the ins and outs of the industry, and the latest news in CD Packaging. I know the thought of it seems tedious but this doesn’t have to be a menial task at all. Start small by devoting yourself to reading at least one article or one blog post a day. Then once you get the hang of it, you can start reading magazines and books.
Have a good relationship with the musicians
Aside from talent, it is necessary for you to have good people skills. If you rarely talk, if you are always grumpy and aloof, if you do not respect deadlines, if you disrespect the artist in any way, It is not likely that they will hire you for their second album. Worse, they will tell all their friends not to get you. And you know words do come around faster than lighting in the music industry. You do not have to be a social butterfly because that could be very tiring at times. As long as you’re not disrespecting them, as long as you’re professional with your work, then you will definitely go a long way in the CD packaging industry.
Make suggestions revolving on what the artist wants
Always consider what the musicians want to see in their CD packaging and make your ideas and suggestions revolve around it. It is their album after all. Do not insist your ideas too much to the point that you’ve completely disregarded the client’s ideas unless you do not mind major revisions in the end.
Create 3- 5 variations of your design
After you have a long talk with the musicians about the CD packaging design, make at least 3 -5 variations so that they would have options. Most of the time, what’s in the artist’s imagination cannot be expressed accurately because imagination is abstract and there are lots of barriers of communication. Sometimes also, there are things that look great in our minds but look dull in paper. In an attempt to match the imagination and the output and to give the client more options, variations are necessary.
Stick to the agreed CD packaging design
When they give suggestions to the design, stick to it when making your revisions or else you’ll just be wasting more time and energy when you do yet another revision. Do not be stubborn and pushy with your ideas. Remember, it’s their album, it’s their money, and the final decision is theirs.
Feb
18
How to Conceptualize Creative CD Packaging
Filed Under CD Packaging | 2 Comments
The CD packaging is mainly used to store and protect CDs and DVDs but it has lots of other functions aside from the obvious. CD packaging can also be used to increase product sales, to define the musician’s image and style, and to convince the consumers to buy the album instead of downloading songs or buying pirated CDs. Without a doubt,, CD packaging plays a very vital role in the music retail industry.
If you are a graphic designer venturing in the CD packaging industry or if you are a musician who wants to do his own CD Packaging, here is a step-by-step guide in conceptualizing CD Packaging.
Get to know the musicians
Before you even start to think of ideas for the CD packaging, you must first get to know the musicians. Do a quick online research about them before you have your first meeting. And during the meeting, casually ask the musicians some questions that could help you define their personality. Ask them about their simple and not-so-simple life philosophies, about their music icons, about their influences. For new musicians, it would be helpful if you ask them straight out on what kind of image they want to portray. Do they want to be the cool psychedelic nerds or the intellectual hippies?
Ask the musicians what they want to see in the CD packaging
How to Conceptualize Creative CD Packaging
Most likely the musicians already has a concept running around his head before they contacted you. You need to weed it out from them so you can come up with one solid concept.
Aside from the concept, you should also ask them what they want to include inside the CD packaging. Do they want to include a brief bio, a picture gallery, or the song lyrics? Do they want to include freebies or coupons? Ask all the necessary details and specifications so you can consider them when conceptualizing the CD packaging.
Listen to the album and write down adjectives
Some designers really listen through the whole album while thinking of a concept to get the overall feel of it. A simpler way is to ask the musicians of one song that they think defines the personality of the whole album. While brainstorming, listen to it on loop and write down adjectives, movies, pegs, and images that pop on your head. Of course, do not forget to consider the musician’s personality and their concept as well. it is their album after all.
Find pegs of your design
You already have creative ideas in your head about the CD packaging design. But sometimes, it is difficult to articulate our visual ideas succinctly to our clients. The easiest way to express these abstract ideas is by presenting pegs. These are pictures, movies, or sources of inspiration that more or less resembles your concept. Look for at least 5-6 images that represent your idea and present it to your clients
Create at least 3 versions of your design
After you and the client have clearly agreed on a concept, it’s now time to do the actual designs. Make at least 3 variations so you would know what looks best. A simple detail or color change could have a huge impact on the overall CD Packaging design.
Make necessary revisions
After presenting your designs, expect some minor revisions and suggestions from the client. A good communication skill is a must if you are in this industry. The better your communication skills, the less likely you’ll make major revisions. Do not put up with a client who demands too many revisions. If you’ve clearly agreed on a concept beforehand, then both of you should respect that.
It’s ready for reproduction
Once they are happy with the CD Packaging, it is now time to send the design over to their CD manufacturing company for mass reproduction.
Sep
7
Hi Lindsey! Could you tell us something about yourself?
I’ve always had the knack for creating colorful concepts and jarring composition either through fine arts or media based design. I studied graphic design at Maryland Institute College of Art, graduating in 2009 Magna Cum Laude. After graduating, I decided to travel west to San Diego, CA to discover the West Coast design world. Now as a freelance designer, I acquired a few unique jobs as a package designer for companies in Canada and Australia. In my free time I’m either at the beach, roller blading on the boardwalk, or exploring my new found home in Cali. I love the warm weather and array of diverse people who call this place home.
Could you tell us about the design you made for “The Kinder Kids” Audio Book.
“The Kinder Kid’s audio books offer an interactive and whimsical approach to Dr. Seuss classic stories. I designed a storage sleeve with two movable trays within the CD’s holder allowing both sides of the package to simultaneously open revealing the inner content. The Packaging was inspired by the children’s thick chipboard stylebook. I wanted the packaging to be as engaging as the stories.”
How did you make this design?
I first developed a die cut using Illustrator and hand drawn sketches. Then I applied graphics and typography to the desired areas of the layout. The lay out includes two sliding panels front and back, and one band that wraps around its-self creating the outer box-shell. Next I printed out the design on photo quality ink jet paper. Then used spray adhesive to bond the design to my material. I used 3ply white board as my base for the package. Finally I cut it all out using the die cuts I had created and scored, folded, and glued as need.
Thanks for sharing that to us. Now here’s a question we ask all of our featured designers: What do you think is a good package?
I believe all good designs speak without a sound and the best design is the one that communicates directly to the consumer. As a designer, I love the challenge to design for both thrifty products and high-end products.
Thanks Lindsey for sharing to us your time and talent. We hope to see more of your works!
Aug
25
Kick-Ass Packaging of the Week: Vonnegut Dollhouse
Filed Under CD Packaging, DVD Packaging | 1 Comment
I know this album was out two years ago but I just cannot not include it on my Kick-Ass Packaging list! I am a sucker for miniatures so you must have an idea how much I drooled over this very inventive Vonnegut Dollhouse CD packaging by Jeff Harrison of Rethink Communications.
He actually built scale models of a house and photographed each panel. I bet he had lots of fun while doing this! Very well done Jeff!
Aug
1
Forget About Saving The Planet
Filed Under CD Packaging, DVD Packaging, Industry News | Leave a Comment
Due to the economic meltdown, eco-friendly packaging is off the priority list of many record companies. “Green packaging is way down on my list right now,” says the head of one U.S. independent distributor, adding that there are “bigger problems to worry about.”
“We’re thinking about another kind of green right now,” says Duncan Browne, COO of the Mass.-based Newbury Comics chain when asked why they stopped using eco-friendly packages. “We’re seriously committed to green of the dead president kind.” And he is not alone. Plenty of other independent and small-scale record companies feel the same way.They are all pointing their fingers to the economy. The U.S. album sales continue to fall. According to Nielsen SoundScan, as of the end of April, album sales are down 7 percent from the corresponding year-earlier period.
I am saddened by this fact but I cannot blame them entirely because well…business is business after all. If the sales are not good, then concerns such as saving the planet have to wait. I genuinely understand their side of the coin and I am not trying to convince them to think otherwise. I just hope that a few good men will remain faithful to this cause despite the current challenges of the economy.
Jul
30
Portugal.The Man’s fourth album, The Satanic Satanist’s packaging features the band guitarist Gourley’s trademark surreal, psychedelic-era drawings. Gourley wanted to make an album package without the plastic so he and designer Austin came up with a colorful Origami-like cut-outs made of paper.
What is more amazing is that they’re doing it completely on their own - no help from any major record label to supply big budgets for high-end graphic designers. Now wouldn’t it be wonderful if we stop using our lack of resources as an excuse for our lack of imagination?
Jul
29
Chickenfoot Launched Debut Album with “Heat Sensitive” Cover
Filed Under CD Packaging, DVD Packaging | Leave a Comment
The new supergroup band which comprises Van Halen and Red Hot Chili Peppers Members launched their debut CD with an inventive packaging. The album packaging, when heated up by the simple touch of a hand, will change opacity, revealing hidden images on the cover and hidden song titles on the back cover. The packaging is printed with a new thermal ink technology developed by CTI (www.ctiinks.com). This is a new patented technology that is currently shaking things up in the world of packaging and marketing.
