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Article

Open Access

Simple but Dominant: How to Re-shine Depeche Mode on Album Covers After 80’s

Author(s)

Cinla Seker

Full-Text PDF Download XML 1110 Views

DOI:10.17265/2159-5526/2015.12.003

Affiliation(s)

Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey

ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper is to analyze the album covers of English band Depeche Mode after 80’s according to the principles of graphic design. Established in 1980, the musical style of the band was turned from synth-pop to new wave, from new wave to electronic, dance, and alternative-rock in decades, but their message stayed as it was: A non-hypocritical, humanist, and decent manner against what is wrong and in love sincerely. As a graphic design product, album covers are pre-print design solutions of two dimensional surfaces. Graphic design, as a design field, has its own elements and principles. Visual elements and typography are the two components which should unite with the help of the six main principles which are: unity/harmony; balance; hierarchy; scale/proportion; dominance/emphasis; and similarity and contrast. All album covers of Depeche Mode after 80’s were designed in a simple but dominant way in order to form a unique style. On every album cover, there are huge color, size, tone, and location contrasts which concluded in simple domination; domination of a non-hypocritical, humanist, and decent manner against what is wrong and in love sincerely.

KEYWORDS

Graphic design, album cover, design principles, dominance, Depeche Mode

Cite this paper

Sociology Study, December 2015, Vol. 5, No. 12, 920-930

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