Transposing Sound to System
Exhibition Typography

Now more than ever, we listen to a lot of music. We consume it while walking to class, taking a shower, while working on schoolwork, and exercising. Some people are even unable to complete these tasks without music. The problem doesn’t lie in the fact that we listen to a lot of music, it is the technology that strips our ability to make creative decisions and understand what and why we are hearing what we hear. Listening more and thinking less. Music is a language meant to be heard, viewed, and interpreted. Like reading a book, it involves our imagination and interpretation of the content. But like reading books, humans are starting to move away from the traditional ways of consuming media. Pulling out a vinyl is viewed primarily as unaccessible and performative..but what if it was challenged to be the exact opposite; can the physicality of a vinyl record increase one’s ability to interpret music?

Front and Back of Double Album “Transposing Sound to System x SpeakerBoxxx, The Love Below”

1. This project starts with a visual music score made from the Outkast’s Double Album; Speakerboxxx, The Love Below. This is just 12 seconds of one song.

2. Next all 40 visual music scores are converted into song spirals, quickly showcasing the unique forms from each song.

3. For the physical record, color is assigned to separate the front/back of the records as well as to signify the next album. Inside jacket design explains that the color rules.

4. From the components of the spirals a typeface SounData is made that includes the song spirals as the numbers.

5. Finally all components are put together and takeaways are made to encourage viewers to think of ways of making music physical.

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