Cigarettes After Sex
A redesign of Cigarettes After Sex's self-titled album cover, blending dreamy indie pop aesthetics with themes of love and longing. The vinyl record cover, doubling as a decorative art piece, integrates symbolic elements to evoke emotional resonance and feelings of limerence.Summary
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Partisan Records.Client
Year
2022
First and foremost, what is the
Design Challenge?
The challenge is to redesign the vinyl record cover for Cigarettes After Sex's 2017 self-titled album, a band known for their dreamy and atmospheric indie pop sound. Their music delves into intimate and introspective themes, often exploring the complexities of love, longing, and melancholy. Thus, the goal is to create a design that not only captures the essence of the band's signature indie pop style but also resonates with the emotional depth of their music. This involves crafting a visual narrative that evokes the mood and narrative of the songs while providing a fresh interpretation that honours the band's artistic vision.
What about the
Idea and Solution?
The redesigned cover for Cigarettes After Sex's self-titled album draws from Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam, featuring two hands reaching toward each other. One vibrant hand expresses longing, while the other remains nonchalant. The gatefold jacket enhances the emotional distance, reflecting the theme of one-sided love explored in the album's tracks. Handwritten text on the cover and lyrics inside evoke intimacy akin to reading personal letters. Overall, the cover encapsulates the album's exploration of limerence and one-sided affection, inviting listeners on a journey through human emotion.
What do we conclude about its
Design Impacts?
The redesigned vinyl record cover for the indie-pop band's 2017 self-titled album makes a profound visual statement, marrying artistic inspiration with emotional resonance. The design impact lies in its ability to evoke a sense of intimacy and introspection, drawing listeners into the emotive world of Cigarettes After Sex.
Disclaimer: This is merely a hypothetical brief and a project done for Queensland University of Technology (QUT).