About

Step-Mother-In-Law is a music packaging design project exploring how visual elements from two distinct albums can merge into a new identity system. The project began by analyzing Betty Walker’s Hello Ceil, It’s Me!!! and The Best of Herman’s Hermits, deconstructing their typography, portraiture, and color palettes. From this research, the Copper Black typeface, bold portrait imagery, and the red and green color scheme became the foundation for the visual language.

Through experimentation with ligatures, object mashups, and line-drawn face merging, the project developed a set of symbols and graphics that function across the album package. Inspired by the symbol-driven identity system created by Eric Timothy Carlson for Bon Iver’s 22, A Million, these graphic elements evolved into a cohesive visual toolkit for the band.

The final package includes a full vinyl album design with gatefold, track listing, and textured portrait imagery applied across the system. Supporting pieces such as tour posters and merchandise extend the concept through stencil-like graphics and hand-made aesthetics, reinforcing the idea of a small band fully embracing the absurd narrative of the “step-mother-in-law.”

Together, these elements form a complete music packaging system that translates research, experimentation, and graphic motifs into a cohesive album identity.