When it comes to music, layering and separation can be interpreted in many different ways. There is the literal layering of instruments and sounds which create the audible aspect of an album. Then there is the graphical aspect of an album which is what I will be focusing on in this post. One company I have interacted with in the past and like to inspect is Blood Records who create very limited versions of vinyl records for new albums. An instance of them using layering to expand on a piece is through the use of pop up images within the vinyl records cover, which expands as the album is interacted with. This can be used in various ways and separates a specific part of the graphic from the rest. As the late graphic designer Saul Bass once stated, “Design is thinking made visual”(Saul Bass, n.d) which perfectly encompasses how the pop up design used in the example below has taken what a user would think of by looking at the background, and bring it to life.
The pop up graphic is only revealed once the user opens the product for use which successfully reinforces Tuftes statement that “the point is to find design strategies that reveal detail and complexity”(Tufte, 1990). Not only does it add a well designed depth to the packaging, but it also removes any element of clutter as everything is organised within the piece. Another element of layering that the user can explore is how the packaging has multiple layers to create the entire product. Ranging from the front cover, inside sleeves and the vinyl record itself to go along with the main marketing point of the pop up gatefold. This shows how without layering and separation, the design of specific products are interrupted and ruin the feel of a succesful product.
Bass, S (n,d) Unattributed quote, located from external source.
Blood Records. (2020). Vistas: What Were You Hoping To Find? (Pop-Up Edition). [online] Available at: https://blood-records.co.uk/products/vistaspop [Accessed 15 Nov. 2021].
Kelsey, M. (2018). 101 quotes about design and creativity | Inside Design blog. [online] Invisionapp.com. Available at: https://www.invisionapp.com/inside-design/design-and-creativity-quotes/ [Accessed 15 Nov. 2021].
Tufte, E (1990) Envisioning Information, P. 53
