Wild! - Album Artwork by Mario Alejandro Stephens

Award-winning design that captures the adventurous spirit of Erasure's 1988 album

Erasure's 1988 album, Wild!, has been given a vibrant and captivating visual representation through the album artwork created by Mario Alejandro Stephens. Inspired by contemporary abstract paintings, Stephens has crafted a series of abstract compositions that depict colorful landscapes of organic forms and paint textures. This unique design has earned Stephens the prestigious Bronze A' Design Award in 2019.

Stephens' inspiration for the artwork came from a deep analysis of the album and its contemporary music. The disassembled letters of the album title on the front cover and the alignment of the tracklist on the back cover were inspired by the concept of deconstruction. The choice of colors was carefully made to reflect different moods, with dark hues conveying melancholy and bright hues representing anticipation and admiration.

What sets this design apart is its innovative approach to engaging music shoppers and listeners. Along with the vinyl package, Stephens has included a set of organic shape stickers that can be accessed from one of the vinyl sleeves. These stickers, inspired by seamless wood patterns, add an interactive element to the design, allowing users to personalize their experience with the album.

The realization of this design was achieved through the use of Adobe Photoshop. Stephens started by applying acrylic paints to cartridge paper and scanning them to capture their unique textures. The organic shapes were digitally traced from photographs of wooden floorboarding, and the digital constructions involved layering and experimenting with colors. The typefaces for the album title, band name, and tracklist were carefully chosen to complement the overall design.

By conceptualizing a vibrant and colorful art movement for this special edition, Stephens aimed to appeal to a wider audience and attract the interest of those who may not be familiar with electronic or synth-pop music. The design amplifies the album's drama and adventurous narrative, enticing shoppers to discover more about Wild! and its messages.

The project, which started in March 2016 and finished in June 2016, required extensive research into the synth-pop genre and its significance in popular music. Stephens incorporated both digital and traditional hands-on methods to achieve the desired visualizations, overcoming challenges of composition and maintaining a balance between chaos and cohesion.

Mario Alejandro Stephens' album artwork for Wild! is a testament to his creativity and technical skills. It captures the essence of Erasure's music and invites listeners to embark on an adventurous journey. This design has been recognized with the Bronze A' Design Award, showcasing Stephens' commitment to excellence and his contribution to the world of art and design.

Image Credits: Photographer Mario Alejandro Stephens (Communication Designer), Wild!, 2016.