As John Cusack in High Fidelity once said, The making of a good compilation tape is a very subtle art. Many dos and don’ts. I would argue that just as subtle as the making of a good compilation tape (or cd) is the making of its cover – it says so much about the personality/dedication of the maker. Do you fold your own cover and hand-write the songs or just print the iTunes playlist? Create your own title for the mix or inscribe a note or doodle on the CD itself? Leave the whole thing blank?
What if the CD was a gift to your closest friends and family to commemorate one of the most important days of your life?
My coworker and good friend Amanda (no relation) was getting married, and had the brilliant idea of making awesome mix cds as wedding favors. They were doing a small, non-traditional marriage in the same place they got engaged (a coffee house!), and wanted a CD cover that reflected this sensibility.
I ended up going with a simple, illustrative route based on the couple’s distinctive hair (or lack thereof). To give it that personal feel, the track list is hand-lettered on the back of the sleeve.
Here’s a shot of the happy couple so you can get the full effect.
Congrats, Amanda and Tom!
(Both photos courtesy J.J. Lane)
