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WorkGraphic Design

Take a trip with these superb Grateful Dead tribute sleeve graphics by The Collected Works

Calling all Deadheads! And also all lovers of great graphic design for album sleeves; we’re not sure there are that many Deadheads reading CB (please, PLEASE write and correct us if we’re wrong).

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CD case and disc for The Day of the Dead tribute compilation, featuring swirling turquoise and teal psychedelic artwork on the left and a large number 3 on the disc against a deep blue background

For the uninitiated, a Deadhead is a superfan of seminal and bonkers counterculture rock ground The Grateful Dead. Formed in California in 1965 by Jerry Garcia (who died in 1995), the band become renowned for their psychedelic predilections in both music and drug consumption, and as such, their visual output from record sleeves to sets and outfits was gorgeously colourful, lurid and body patterned.

Now, New York agency The Collected Works has reimagined the band;s work today in creating the designs for a compilation album called The Day of the Dead put together in tribute to The Grateful Dead.

“It’s a project I’m pretty proud of,” says agency partner Justin Colt. “Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National made it all possible, and brought together a bunch of their favourite musicians to compose 59 tracks.”

These were brought together into a five CD boxset and a ten LP boxset, being sold with the proceeds raised given to HIV/Aids awareness and support charity the Red Hot Organization. The Collected Works was responsible for all the art direction, identity, packaging, print, motion and web design on the project.

“The Day of the Dead design system is a modern reinterpretation of the Dead’s iconography, lyrics and related imagery,” Colt explains. “Throughout the identity we use a combination of oil and water textures (referencing backing visuals of live Grateful Dead shows), and hand-drawn illustrations created by the incredibly talented Gary Panter.

“This creates an expandable system that works across all the packaging–and is also flexible enough to adapt to web, motion and apparel design. The imagery may or may not require the viewer to be on LSD to get the full effect. But you didn’t hear that from us.”

The Day of the Dead tribute album packaging featuring an orange and green CD with abstract organic patterning alongside its matching sleeve against a green background
CD and sleeve packaging for The Day of the Dead tribute album featuring purple and cyan abstract organic shapes on a vibrant purple background
CD case and disc for The Day of the Dead tribute album, featuring yellow number 4 and red and yellow abstract organic patterns on coral pink background
Day of the Dead tribute album CD and sleeve with purple and pink psychedelic design on bright pink background
Concentric rainbow circles with textured patterns radiating from a black centre circle containing "Day of the Dead" text and imagery on a dark background
The Collected Works' Day of the Dead tribute album packaging featuring black boxsets with vibrant concentric circular patterns and dense colourful text layouts arranged diagonally
Four variations of a Day of the Dead tribute t-shirt in black, tie-dye green and yellow, blue and grey, each featuring the album title in distressed lettering
Colourful vinyl records and CD designs for The Day of the Dead tribute album arranged on a black surface, featuring vibrant patterns and psychedelic artwork in blues, reds, oranges and purples
Day of the Dead tribute poster with rippling green and yellow pattern and white typography for the live album at Eaux Claires
Three black beer cans with "Day of the Dead" branding featuring white iconographic symbols inspired by Grateful Dead imagery
Vibrant pink and gold poster for Day of the Dead tribute album featuring wavy striped pattern and Live at Eaux Claires event details
Closed silver and black boxset for The Day of the Dead Grateful Dead tribute compilation, with embossed text and symbols visible on the metallic lid
White textured surface with scattered black illustrations and bold typography reading "Day of the Dead," part of The Collected Works' tribute album packaging design
Vinyl record with white and pale green marbled pressing and orange centre label, displayed next to its orange and green patterned sleeve against a green background
White vinyl record with light blue gradient and circular label beside purple and turquoise abstract album artwork for The Day of the Dead tribute compilation
Psychedelic turquoise and teal illustration featuring an astronaut's face surrounded by abstract organic shapes and circular patterns, referencing the Grateful Dead's counterculture aesthetic
Blue and white marbled vinyl record with matching turquoise album sleeve featuring psychedelic organic patterns for The Day of the Dead tribute compilation
Cream-coloured vinyl record with red and yellow abstract psychedelic artwork on the sleeve and matching circular label for The Day of the Dead tribute album
A bright magenta vinyl record with white splatter effect and a purple label reading "Day of the Dead Discos" against a purple background
Vinyl record and sleeve for The Day of the Dead Grateful Dead tribute compilation, featuring psychedelic purple and pink bubble patterns with a marbled purple and white record against a pink background
Yellow and white swirled vinyl record with green album sleeve featuring abstract psychedelic artwork against a bright green background
Abstract cat face with bold eyes surrounded by overlapping circles in orange and deep purple psychedelic design
Red and purple patterned album sleeve next to a pink and white marbled vinyl record with a red centre label against a coral background
Cream-coloured vinyl record next to its purple sleeve featuring psychedelic illustrations of mechanical gears and floating circles in yellow and gold tones
Pink vinyl record with turquoise circular label reading "DISC 09" from The Collected Works' design for The Day of the Dead tribute compilation
Pink and white vinyl record with teal label next to coral and teal patterned album sleeve for The Day of the Dead tribute compilation
Vinyl record with orange and white splatter effect next to matching album artwork in pink and orange, designed for The Day of the Dead Grateful Dead tribute compilation
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