Collector’s Edition – innovative packaging and graphics

The exhibition, Collector’s Edition, marks the release of a book of the same name by Stuart Tolley (who also curated the show), which brings together 180 examples graphic and product design for collector’s, limited or deluxe editions  created for the music, book and magazine industries.

Among the works on show are Irma Boom’s spine design for her ‘story in postcards, with conversations, about family’, James Jennifer Georgina and Stanley Donwood’s designs for Radiohead’s In Rainbows deluxe limited-edition box set.

The Collector’s Edition book is split into four sections – Boxed, Multiples, Hand and Extras, and looks to provide a snapshot of how new production techniques are being used to enhance the rise of highly crafted objects.

‘The objects demonstrate the creative possibilities print continues to offer in the digital age and the massive increase in vinyl record sales and independent publishing in recent years’, says KK Outlet.

‘However author Stuart Tolley’s curation shows that many of the most innovative examples in the book often combine analogue and digital technology to great effect’.

Other highlights from the book presented in the show include the art edition of Bjork’s Biophilia, featuring ten tuning forks all tuned to a different track from the album and Stefan Sagmeister’s designs for a limited edition of Other Criteria’s monograph on Ashley Bickerton.

The aforementioned gummy skull is a reference to the Flaming Lip’s Gummy Song Skull, a human-sized gummy skull used to package a four track EP on a USB stick within its sugary house.

Collector’s Edition Exhibition runs from 19 August – 6 September at KK Outlet, 42 Hoxton Square, London N1 6PB