Simple things please…

The theme of travel was hit upon for the latest release from adult-orientated rockers Simple Minds. – Design group Toorkwaz wanted to present the band in a modern environment for the album Néapolis and single Glitterball.

The theme of travel was hit upon for the latest release from adult-orientated rockers Simple Minds.

Design group Toorkwaz wanted to present the band in a modern environment for the album Néapolis and single Glitterball.

‘The band didn’t have any idea what they wanted,’ says Toorquaz creative director Stuart Mackenzie, and for a year he sent lead singer Jim Kerr images, mood boards, words and phrases ‘to spark his imagination’.

Mackenzie worked with photographer Andy Earl and carried out the stills shoot for the sleeve design in Naples.

‘The contrast between modern architecture and rural lifestyle was very prominent and from that we built up a set of different scenarios which we built the band into, trying to retain a slightly unnerving quality to each one,’ says Mackenzie.

The Simple Minds logo, redrawn by Mackenzie on Illustrator from Micrograma Extended, is intended to have a liquid, modern feel.

The south London consultancy also handled the video for the single and designed the website. The video was shot at the new Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao – the first band to get permission to shoot there.

‘Keeping the video simple and easy to watch was the main objective, which was difficult when every turn is a location in its own right,’ says Mackenzie.

This is Mackenzie’s third Simple Minds album cover – he worked on the previous two during his eight years at Stylo Rouge.

Glitterball is out on 2 March, with the album following on 16 March.

Designer: Toorkwaz

Client: Simple Minds

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