Coke design agency gives Metallica a hand Coca-Cola design agency Turner Duckworth fashioned the cover of Metallica's new album, Death Magnetic. Brandweek says David Turner, one of the company's founders, is friends with drummer Lars Ulrich, and their children go to the same school. Such details make Metallica sound old and unhip. But what do I know? The disc shot to No. 1 and sold 500,000 copies in three days. The cover shows a magnetized coffin. I want to be buried in one of those, so anyone with a cellphone or change in their pockets or metal jewelry will be pulled toward my grave screaming, "Help! Dave's pulling me into his grave!" Hey, at least I've got a plan for the afterlife, OK? —Posted by David Gianatasio

September 19, 2008 in Design, Gianatasio | Permalink

Comments

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Brand New had a good post about this too, with handy before/after comparisons.

http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/metallica_the_brand.php

Posted by: shaun | Sep 19, 2008 10:01:03 AM

"Such details make Metallica sound old and unhip."

I totally disagree - such details make it sound like Metallica is ahead of the curve; utilising the undeniable skills of a brilliant design agency to set their album apart from the usual 90% of poorly designed metal albums. With 100 MILLION album sales under their belts, they ARE a hugely successful brand. Coca-Cola isn't 'old and unhip' because it seeks to design and modernise its brand, is it?

I was over the moon when I found out TD were doing it - my two greatest passions in life, design and Metallica, brought together! And they've done an excellent job: I was at the London club gig on Monday 15th and all the merchandise, the display and of course the album itself (lovely multi-layered diecut in the CD leaflet) is beautifully put together.

I also found whilst chatting to other fans - most of whom were pretty intrigued when I said I was a graphic designer (because it always sounds so glam to those who don't do it - LOL!) - they were pretty impressed by the effort put into the new designs. It's very 'Metallica' and the whole Death Magnetic coffin idea I absolutely love. The photography in the CD/vinyl artwork is very evocative of each song - Turner Duckworth have definitely made another winner here.

Now if Metallica go ahead and win a design award, as well as their 8th Grammy, for this album, I'll be a very happy bunny :-D

Posted by: minxlj | Sep 19, 2008 12:51:30 PM

Brilliant, fantastic design!

Posted by: Nappy Rash | Sep 19, 2008 1:30:27 PM

Wow, that image is pretty vaginal.

Posted by: Freud | Sep 19, 2008 4:28:05 PM

I really don't like Metallica, yet I'm strangely aroused right now.

Posted by: Aishiori | Sep 19, 2008 4:56:59 PM

I think we all are getting old and unhip. Sadly. :-)

Posted by: Herbert | Sep 20, 2008 9:23:22 AM

I don't think magnetic was the first thing that occurred to me either.

Posted by: scott | Sep 22, 2008 1:56:31 PM

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