Khruangbin Album Re-Design

Khruangbin’s Album Re-Design

This project was the final product of a mentorship program led by the RGD. I was very lucky to have Alina Skyson— Design Director at The Office of Gilbert Li, as my mentor for this project. The goal was to conceptualize and execute an album packaging piece guided by her working expertise.
I choose Khruangbin’s 2015 album The Universe Smiles Upon You as the album to re-design.

Length

4 months

Tools

InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate

Area

Album Design

Front cover

The ride

After doing research about the album, I found out the band members relocated to a barn in rural Texas, where they played and recorded music during the day and enjoyed joyrides in a car listening to Thai funk sounds in the afternoons.

I then imagined the type of ride that would suit the band’s style and landed on a vintage Cadillac convertible to represent the simple yet cool groove of their music.

Front and back cover

Inner gatefold

Inner gatefold detail

Vinyl label

Reflection

Working with Alina’s expertise in layout and editorial design was a very rewarding experience. At the end of the project, I was able to grasp a deeper understanding of album design by slowing down and analyzing the individual elements that complete an album piece as a whole. I definitely miss the mentor/mentee dynamic. Alina never ceased to push my ideas work reached its best possible best form both conceptually and aesthetically.