True Colors

An Album Design by Yu Chen

In the high-intensity modern society, people repeat the gray life in the same way every day. In fact, everyone has their own colors, so I want to use black and white to confront other colors to express the theme of people breaking the pattern and looking for real self.

This album design, titled "True Colors," is a unique exploration of self and self-revelation. In today's society, many things remain unchanged, and people find themselves trapped in repetitive work and routines, gradually losing their original passion under the pressure of life. The album package features black-and-white pictures and edgy colors, symbolizing the theme of breaking free from the pattern and seeking one's true self.

The realization of this design is achieved through high-level printing and manufacturing technologies. The CD box cover measures 125 x 121 mm, while the disc itself has an outside diameter of 80 mm and an aperture of 15 mm. Additionally, the album includes posters sized at 500 mm x 700 mm.

When visual design is combined with music, it activates multiple senses, creating a dynamic experience that stimulates the mind. Each listener's mood and emotions will generate different interpretations and ideas. This unique interaction between visuals and music is truly fascinating.

The "True Colors" album design project began in February 2019 in Wuhan and was completed in March 2019. Throughout the process, the designer delved into philosophical books and explored ideas beyond the visual realm, seeking a deeper understanding of the theme. This research allowed the designer to visually present images that resonate with the album's concept.

One of the main challenges faced during the creation of this design was how to effectively combine multiple colors with black-and-white graphics to generate interesting visual ideas. The designer successfully overcame this obstacle, resulting in a captivating and thought-provoking design.

Based on the album's theme, the designer made a breakthrough in the use of gradient colors and black-and-white color matching, creating a vivid and intriguing visual experience. The overall design exudes a strong sense of form, perfectly complementing the concept of individuals seeking their true colors. Each person is unique and possesses their own authentic hues.

True Colors album design by Yu Chen. Image credits: Yu Chen.

This design has been recognized with the Bronze A' Design Award in the Graphics, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design category in 2019. The A' Design Award is bestowed upon outstanding and creatively ingenious designs that authenticate experience and resourcefulness. Esteemed for incorporating best practices in art, science, design, and technology, these designs exhibit strong technical and creative skills and contribute to quality of life improvements, making the world a better place.