Applying the same rules to the B side

Initial B side (Buerak cover) type

I want the B side to share the same visual language as the A side, so used the same typeface to provide consistency. This was important as I feel like the A and B side should have the same tone/ semantics.

I basically just used the same methods and rules I used for the A side, so added a 3D texture to the typeface. 

Adding visuals

These visuals use a disposable camera picture of some urban/ concrete buildings which share the same atmosphere of where Buerak are from in Siberia; it also relates to the harshness in industrial brutalism which kind of relates to the instrumentals of their music.

This outcome uses an illustration from the British library archives of the goddess of dance; I don't really like how clean the illustration looks, neither do I really think using the same background as the A side is very fitting. It just looks like a total copy of the A side. 

This is the initial image I used for the B side; I liked to add texture and a glowing effect akin to the A side. 

I played around with different illustrations but I think this one in particular works the best as it relates to the idea of dancing alone; in a sense it also relates to Molchat Doma as their song is very pessimistic. Despite this, I didn't really like any of these colour schemes, as they don't look very in you face or rebel against the idea of censorship. The motif of dancing helps to bridge links to the humanistic element of punk/ post punk; this rebels against the dehumanisation of punks origins in Soviet Russia, and how many youths were put in prison fro expressing their individuality. Dancing seems to be a nice motif to use as a symbol of unity within the punk/ post punk scene in Russia, as it originated in a highly underground environment with close knit communities. 

This outcome above is my favourite; I think the crazy neon green/ yellow works really well at creating a chaotic and bold design. I also prefer the background imagery inverted as it provides more of a nicer juxtaposition. 

Mockups

I used the same mockup technique as the A side as obviously they will be printed on either side. This one simply explains the separate layers. I think now I need to consider extra add ons like stickers and the inner sleeve? 

Mockups

Mockups

I definitely want to have the text and illustration on a separate layer as it provides some interactivity to the design; also, these elements are more dominant in the visual hierarchy, so makes sense to have them on top of the design. If I were making these physically, it could be interesting to use a neon or glow in the dark ink for the plastic bag? 

I think this texture/ design works really well by itself as the outer sleeve; it is abstract and allusive yet still very bold and conveys the right semantics of censorship. 

I also think adding the illustrations onto the vinyl sticker works nicely to tie the whole A side together and provide consistency; I could also consider adding text like the song titles?

Using archive illustrations

Playing with textures

I wanted to play around with adding more textures and colours to the original images, so though adding this soft glow effect could be interesting in juxtaposing more harsh textures. It also hides aspects of the image which nicely links to censorship. 

I added a 3D rendered texture from an image of whitewash, which added much more of an aggressive/ harsh element to the design, thus contrasting the soft glowing red hues. I also wanted to conflict this by using a pastel colour for the whitewash, which complimented the idea of soft vocals within the sub genre. 

Adding text

I added my typeface in a vibrant red colour to provide consistency within the designs' colour palette; I want the design to have a strong motif of red due to its connotations of anger which are associated within the origins of punk/ post punk in Russia. Despite this, I feel like the black outlining is slightly too harsh, and could be softened by using a pastel hue? Possibly to also match the texture colour. 

Adding illustrations

I added the illustrations of people dancing to relate to the title of the Molchat Doma song Tancevat, meaning 'to dance'. Although a subtle reference, I feel like the addition of the illustrations tie the cover design together; especially the matching colour palette. 

This version uses an alternative illustration of people dancing; I think I definitely prefer the composition of this version, as it looks more balanced in regards to the text/ illustration covering the imagery. 

I played around with adding some little details like more blurred/ whitewashed effects by inverting certain aspects of the background image; I feel like this completes the design as it adds little details that provide more complexity.

I think now that I'm happy with the A side concept, I want to explore it further by making mockups, and considering the B side design for Buerak; I want it to have the same tone, yet use similar imagery and have the same visual language.