EAR CANDY Boxset

EAR CANDY is a box set promising the experience of pop music through time. Inspired by my love for bubblegum pop music and artificial aesthetics, this project allowed me to explore themes of consumerism in concept while also challenging me in designing, prototyping, and then building a physical object for my design to exist in. I aimed to reference the bright colors and imagery in early 2000s music advertisements (such as Apple’s iPod Shuffle commercial) through my design, while also being inspired by cover art and promotional materials from my favorite pop icons.

The box set is divided into three discs: ‘THEN’, ’NOW’, AND ‘NEXT’. ‘THEN’, pressed onto a multicolored-splatter vinyl, highlights pop music of the past, beginning with Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,” and continues with songs by Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, and OutKast. ‘NOW’, is packaged in a CD jewel case and includes songs by pop contemporaries Lady Gaga, Robyn, Carly Rae Jepsen and Little Mix. ‘NEXT’, packages a futuristic brain-chip embedded with tunes from Ami Suzuki, SOPHIE, Charli xcx and Kate Bush, curated by my predictions of what the future of pop will sound like. Also included is a perfect-bound catalogue which lists all the included music and important information when experiencing EAR CANDY🎵.

The imagery of the entire project is made from textures and imagery shot by me and turned into bitmaps. Thank you to my friends Charlotte, Emo, and Mollie for modeling for this project.