Filed under: Conceptual, Packaging

Tibor Kalman x System Of A Down CD Packaging

Reimagined packaging for the album Steal This Album by System Of A Down, created in the style of researched designer Tibor Kalman. Twelve disjointed book board panels allude to the childish habits of Earth’s leadership.

The front cover of a CD album showing a child placing an iPod in their shirt pocket.The back cover of a CD album showing a scientist and a child reeling back from an FBI anti-piracy logo.
The exterior of a CD album laid flat, depicting multiple people and illustrations in a collage.

The Challenge

My goal with this project was to redesign an existing music album in the style of a famous designer. Tibor Kalman made a career out of surprise, irreverence, and a disregard for typical solutions. He was always willing to take a risk and make a mess, which I feel is a perfect fit for the impulsive and sometimes chaotic protest music of System Of A Down.
A close up view of the front cover of a CD album.
A CD album made of heavy bookboard is unfolded revealing multiple panels covered in collage.
A CD album made of heavy bookboard is unfolded revealing multiple panels covered in collage.

The Solution

A series of rigid book board panels unfold erratically like a child’s picture book that has been twisted apart and reassembled. Collages made from found photography and prints have been combined with custom illustrations and hand lettering throughout, eschewing common aesthetic choices and instead prioritizing communication of a mood or feeling. It is messy, surprising, and expressive, reflecting both the music and the design inspiration.

The interior of a CD album laid flat, depicting multiple people and illustrations in a collage.