Album Art was “invented” in 1940 by a young designer, who proposed that putting artwork on the covers of albums, instead of the earlier treatment of silver or gold type imprinted on a heavy, solid color background (like an encyclopedia), would increase record sales. He was right.
Before that, designers created visuals to imprint a mental image and a mood on the covers of sheet music. From exotic to seductive to classic, the examples below (from the 10’s, 20’s, 30’s) show how an appropriate use of imagery and a touch of drama turn an otherwise cut and dry medium (staff lines and dots w/ flags) into an emotional piece of literature. All using about 3 colors.
Pretty sexy for 1931. The “too distracted to care about my hat” is a nice touch.
Flights were a bit more expensive back then and many years before Vegas was an option for exotic getaway.
Apparently I need to spend some time in Ohio.
Must have something in the repertoire for when grandma comes by for tea.
The simplicity is contemporary and would also make great packaging for saltines or raisins.
7 seconds: How Battlestar Galactica gets pulses pounding
Every time you tune in to a TV show, whether it’s your first episode or you’re coming back for more, title designers typically have less than a minute to set the tone, establish the context, and get your heart racing.
The title sequence of Battlestar Galactica begins with serene chanting juxtaposed with violent images that define the central conflict. Then something interesting happens.
At 33 seconds, a flash. The soothing voices fade away, replaced by pounding drums, and you’re exposed to a 7-second peek into the future as major events from the episode you are about to see flash before your eyes. This tiny glimpse into the future is enough to turn what would otherwise be a canned title sequence into a jolt to the imagination.
If you’re designing an experience that calls for setting a tone, establishing a context, how can you give your audience a peek ahead to get their hearts racing without giving too much away?
