I was tasked with one thing when I was given two vinyls for my final GDII project: design my own ONLY using elements from both. Those albums were Full Sail by Loggins & Messina and Barefoot Ballet by John Klemmer. 

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Before designing my album, I listened to every song from both albums, scanned (literally and figuratively) every element of each album, and did research on the artists. 

I enjoyed learning about John Klemmer and especially about the tenuous relationship between Loggins and Messina. As a writer, Loggins and Messina provided great ideas for stories, but above all, they provided me with the idea of what I wanted my overall design story to be. 

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All of the artists, in their own ways, created their own unique sound and influenced their respective genres. Upon learning this, I started looking at the details—Klemmer’s hands, the ripped vinyl sleeves, the palm trees—and begun designing. 

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My project is a story about two estranged artists coming back and moving past the rivalry that tore them apart. There are hints to their feud in the torn paper and in the way that everything is paired up but never the same. I emphasized the hands because, as stated, the artists influenced their respective genres---however only one hand has flowers because only one of them would find success in the end (a nod to Loggins finding success after splitting from Messina). 

 

The poster represents a new beginning for the duo, as does the postcard, with two hands reaching out towards the other, desperate to reconnect like old times. The tote bags show two sides of the relationship: the good and bad. I made a joke during my presentation that it was similar to crime documentaries where the narrator goes, "They were good friends...UNTIL THEY WEREN'T."

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I named the duo "The Slims" simply because all of the artists were skinny dudes. But if someone needs a very deep explanation, it is because there was a slim chance of the duo lasting. 

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This is Rebel Lotus, the Reunion Tour.