Design Your Mind

I just want to say this before you read further: I love Radiohead. In no way is this a smash session on the In Rainbows package design. This is only my interpretation of what I feel could have made the design stronger.  

Cheers,
Aaron James Trigg

Color Theory Defense

Old Design

As a whole the Radiohead CD package is a very well put together design. The front of the case can jump out at someone at any record store. The current theme is very warm with its brightly colored paint splatters and rainbow color scheme. The CD Sleeve however, breaks the color scheme with its white and light blue graphics. Kind of a shock to have this sleeve fall out of the package and seemly have no connection with the design what-so-ever. Upon listening to the CD its seems that the rainbow scheme doesn't fit the listening style of the CD either. While one listens to the CD one will notice significantly more cooler undertones flowing rhythmically throughout the music then warm. Using the CD title may have not been the wisest choice for the direction of the CD package. Yes, it does pop off the shelf at stores but does it represent the content properly? For me, no. I have listened to the CD through and through studying and interpreting the music. I will like to take a more genuine less literal approach to the CD package scheme.

New design

Keeping with blue analogues background images would suit the “In Rainbows” album best. It will help better describe the overall musical subtleties of the album as they are more predominately cooler than warm. The outer image is an earth perspective of the moon beginning to erupt. There is derby raining down on earth as it destructs. A more abstract view on "In Rainbows". If the moon ceased to exist so would we. But we were told that the world would never be destroyed again. A promised sealed with a rainbow. There is one ray of light signifying one hope. The CD sleeve itself is a space perspective of the moon before complete destruction. The analogues blue conveys the feeling of cold nothingness. When the sleeve is folded it will make for an interesting double sided composition. The rainbow text style will be salvaged to have some reference to the original “In Rainbows” titling. The brightly colored text has been tinted with blue to better blend into the composition and keeping with the cold blue color scheme. These changes will be a sure fire way to make the album one cohesive masterpiece.

Blue is calming. It can be strong and steadfast or light and friendly. Almost everyone likes some shade of the color blue. In many diverse cultures blue is significant in religious beliefs, brings peace, or is believed to keep the bad spirits away. Blue conveys importance and confidence without being somber or sinister, hence the blue power suit of the corporate world and the blue uniforms of police officers. Long considered a corporate color, blue, especially darker blue, is associated with intelligence, stability, unity, and conservatism. Blue would fit Radiohead's “In Rainbows” for these exact reasons. The calming nature of the entire album deserves a blue scheme. There are moments in the album that I wouldn't consider calm. They are chaotic and put you at the edge of your seat. That is where the moon destruction comes in. The music is meant to calm a sooth you.