Elton John announced to the world that, after fifty years of performing and touring, he will retire, but not before completing a climactic two-year world tour. Recognizing that albums are simply musical forms of story-telling, I thought to bring a twist to the idea of packaging and apply it to Elton’s music, rich with story. What better way to accompany a farewell tour than to re-release some of the best-loved albums that launched a life-long career as an iconic rock star? And who better to design them than me?

My personal interpretations of the albums, integrated with relevant 2018 design, inspired and informed the direction for the designs. Impactful yet sparing use of soft gradients and transparent colors placed these designs firmly into the 2018 aesthetic. Carefully-chosen script type for Elton John that evoked the ‘57 Chevy ideal paired with the swirling hem of a poodle skirt reinfoced the ‘50’s theme for Don’t Shoot Me. Metallophile’s rough-hewn edges evoked the feel of chiseled bricks in Yellow Brick Road. I created an original typeface for Honky Chateau to reflect the never-been-seen-before journey of Rocket Man—one of its most iconic tracks.

Album labels were designed within a system to unify them, and expanded images from the jacket designs created the backgrounds which served to differentiate them. All together, these labels and covers emanate a cohesive retro/modern feel.

VIEW MY PROCESS FOR THIS PROJECT

OBJECTIVES, RESEARCH, INSPIRATION, DRAFTS