OUGD406 Studio Brief 01 Analysis of Other People's Work

One album cover that really caught my eye was this one by Becca Kelly. The simplicity of the composition, yet the impact of the piece shows that it is really greater than the sum of its parts. The cover is for the Jake Bugg song strange creatures and this design relates clearly to this title through the use of the octopus. Sea creatures in general are quite a disquieting lot because aesthetically they are so different from our selves. Also the cover makes use of a slight intertextual reference, in that many alien designs in films make use of sea creatures as the base starting point. the way that the octopus has been photographed highlights this strangeness making it look more like an object than a thing. The high levels of reflection off the slimy surface of its skin and the intensity of the colour are the major reasons for this. The circular distortion in the centre creates the impression that the octopus is being examined through a magnifying glass, suggesting the idea that the song is an in-depth commentary of some sought, possibly looking at what and why we consider certain things strange. The distortion could also be taken to be saying that the way that we look at others (subjectively) Distorts what we see into something strange, but then again also something wonderful. Our subjectivity is what makes seeing something strange and new so exciting and makes being alive generally worth it.

All in all, I think that this is a really successful cover that could possibly only have been improved by the circles in the centre being enlarged to increase the sense of examination conveyed by the piece. Otherwise I really love this design and it would definitely make me stop and look if I saw it in a shop.