Eveloution of Hip-Hop by Genere Box Publications

Genre Box started as a way to pay tribute to the culture and history of all genres of music. Each issue would have a book packed into a different kind of case. The first product I worked on was hip-hop, and I designed a pack that celebrates the genre’s DJing history and culture. What they were trying to achieve was a product with narrative, design, and functionality but with an immersive experience.

Design and Prototyping

The packaging was designed to look like a turntable, and it spoke of how DJs had been central to the founding of hip-hop. The turntable itself had tactile buttons, knobs, and LED lights to give it a real tactile experience. The Birth of a Genre: Hip-Hop, as the book was called, was edited and written with an eye to being informative as well as visually striking, with colorful graphics, vinyl record-style covers, and graffiti fonts to bring out the best in hip-hop.

Materials and Construction

I’ve built the case with lightweight metal and robust materials to resemble a professional DJ turntable. There was foam padding inside, to preserve the book and make the whole package feel special. The turntable itself was made of acrylic, inlaid with functional symbols, and LED-lit so it would shine on opening. The book itself was printed and bound on a high-quality paper, and there was even a secret compartment under the turntable to house the book.

Production and Assembly

All of the parts were hand-poured and put together to be accurate and cohesive. The LED lighting was connected and tested, and the buttons and knobs were inserted with care so the package could be interactive. The book was put into the secret compartment, secure but not out of reach.

Outcome and Future Plans

The Hip-Hop Genre Box is the first of a series of genre history books that will be written by artists with a specific music genre in mind. There’ll be future releases covering more sonic topics (jazz, rock, EDM), each with their own book and case. Genre Box is more than just books: a museum of music and culture that is thoughtfully curated and crafted.

• Category : Product Design & Publication
• Date : 10/23/2015
• Client : Freelance