A few weeks ago, a phone call came into the office of 822design. I picked it up and spoke to a band manager, looking for me. He told me that I came recommended as he was in need of a new look for the band he represented. I said I was open to a meeting and we set up an appointment. Without really thinking about it, I went about my day, working on my existing clients’ creative gladly knowing that I had another project on the horizon. I did not know who the Buzztown Boys were, but they found me.
On the day of meeting, I cleaned off the office coffee table and laid out some of my previous creative for the band to review. As I fired up my trusty laptop with some web creative, the doorbell rang. Our dog began to bark. I quieted him, buzzing in my new clients. Radar, our pooch, wouldn’t give in. You thought we were being robbed, but we weren’t. This is his greeting call no matter who is at the door. So, I grabbed his collar and held him while I opened the door.
Up the stairwell arrived a well-dressed gentleman followed by four men whom I recognized immediately. This was not the Buzztown Boys, as they were presented to me over the phone. This was U2. I let Radar’s collar go and put out my hand in welcome. Each was given the once over by the dog. Larry, the shyest of all, crouched down and made an immediate, friend while the rest of the band were taking in my home.
We said pleasantries as Larry came back to reality and eventually sat down at the table. Without any moment to waste, the band began flipping through my book as their manager was describing why they chose me to design their next album cover. I looked at Bono, who went on to explain that the album is nothing like what I have heard previously released from U2. He tossed me an iPod and said, “hit play.” I did.
Of course, this didn’t happen, but this is how you have to think when you enter a competition, like I did, designing, or redesigning, an epic album cover like Achtung Baby. I knew when U2.com posted the competition that there would be a lot of entries trying to emulate the cover in that mosaic composition. I did, but I took it a step further. I looked at the world through the album’s eyes and not a reflection of the band. You will see there is no band image in my design because I wanted you to question the images and then listen.
Trust me, it’s hard to try to recreate an epic piece of art, especially one that has stood the test of time. And that my friend, is where the challenge is and how I challenge you as a viewer. These are not pretty pictures. They are images over images telling us a story about the fragility of life just like the album. Don’t believe me? Take a look. I’ll see you on the backside.
