Chopin Residue Primarna funkcija: Ovitek glasbenega albuma by Mariusz Szypura

Bronasta Embalaža · 2026

Chopin Residue Primarna funkcija: Ovitek glasbenega albuma

by Mariusz Szypura

Bronasta nagrada A' Design Award 2026 in Embalaža
CLIENT: Black Element Label
Estimated Number of Design Views: 7,049
Verification code 6B44E47031 · Verify this award

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release

Colors

About Chopin Residue Primarna funkcija: Ovitek glasbenega albuma

Besedilo knjige: Likovna dela, predstavljena na vložkih albuma, dokumentirajo serijo velikoformatnih del, ustvarjenih iz odpadne nitke, ki nastane med postopkom rezanja vinilne plošče na stružnici – fizičnega negativa utora. Zasnova obravnava embalažo kot razširitev glasbe ter združuje zvok, material in postopek v enem samem fizičnem predmetu. Album na novo interpretira dela Fryderyka Chopina ob sodelovanju z umetniki, povezanimi s skupinami Portishead, Sonic Youth, Battles, Beck, David Bowie in Tortoise.

About the Bronasta nagrada A' Design Award

Chopin Residue Primarna funkcija: Ovitek glasbenega albuma je prejemnik Bronaste nagrade A' Design Award, zelo prestižnega priznanja, ki se podeljuje izjemnim oblikovanjem, ki se odlikujejo po ustvarjalnosti, iznajdljivosti in bistrosti. Prejemniki Bronaste nagrade so v celoti spretni in presenetljivo ustvarjalni artefakti, ki potrjujejo bogate izkušnje, domišljijo in zvitost svojih oblikovalcev. Od Chopin Residue Primarna funkcija: Ovitek glasbenega albuma se pričakuje, da bo visoko cenjen, občudovan in ljubljen predmet, opazno profesionalen in inovativen. To oblikovanje, nagrajeno z Bronasto nagrado A' Design Award, vključuje najboljše prakse v umetnosti, znanosti, oblikovanju in tehnologiji ter je odlično po pozornosti do podrobnosti. Chopin Residue Primarna funkcija: Ovitek glasbenega albuma sijajno zadovoljuje potrebe, se dotika želja, očara čustva in vzbuja radovednost.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: The cover of Chopin Residue is generated from the album’s core idea: residue as what remains after deconstruction. Created through the same lathe-cut process that produces the sound, the artwork uses vinyl waste as its visual material. Reinterpreting the music of Fryderyk Chopin with artists linked to projects such as Portishead, Sonic Youth, Battles, Beck, David Bowie, and Tortoise, the package becomes a physical extension of the composition, uniting sound, material, and process.
Dimensions & Packaging: Physical formats include: Vinyl LP sleeve approx. 315 x 315 x 5 mm; CD digipack approx. 142 x 125 x 10 mm; cassette case approx. 110 x 70 x 17 mm. All formats were designed as tactile objects, with dimensions following industry standards to emphasize material presence and consistency across editions.
Tags: residue concept, album packaging design, lathe-cut vinyl, material-driven design, experimental music artwork, process-based design, sound as material, physical music object
Production Technology: The design was developed through a process-based methodology, treating sound recording as a material practice. Vinyl shavings produced during the lathe-cut process were collected, preserved, and used to create physical artworks. These works were then photographed and translated into the album packaging. The production emphasized minimal intervention, tactile materials, and small-batch manufacturing, allowing process and material to define the visual language.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was translating an abstract musical concept into a physical object without illustration or decoration. Internally, this required rethinking historical album design and treating sound production as material practice. Externally, limitations included small-scale manufacturing, legal constraints of physical formats, and the unpredictability of lathe-cut processes. Balancing conceptual clarity with technical constraints required continuous testing and adaptation.
Research: Type of Research: practice-based artistic research.
Research Objectives: to translate musical deconstruction into physical form.
Methodology: sound recording treated as a material process.
Data & Tools: lathe-cut vinyl recording, material observation, photography.
Participants: the artist and collaborating musicians.
Results: vinyl residue became visual material.
Insights & Impact: the research links sound, object, and design, showing how production traces can shape meaning in music packaging and contemporary design.
Inspiration: The project was inspired by the idea of residue as a creative outcome - what remains after a process of reduction and transformation. The design emerged from research into lathe-cut vinyl as a physical recording method, treating sound production as material practice. The motivation was to translate an abstract musical concept into a tangible object, where recording, waste, and form become a unified design language.
Project Duration: The project was developed between 2023 and 2025. Music recording and vinyl cutting were carried out during this period, followed by the creation of the visual artworks and packaging design. The album and its physical editions were completed and released in November 2025, accompanied by exhibitions in NY and Osaka and presentations of the related artworks.
Operation Flow: The object is experienced by opening, holding, and listening. The package reveals the music while visually showing traces of how it was made. Images and materials guide the user from sound to its physical remains. Interaction is slow and tactile, encouraging attention and reflection. By connecting listening with touch and sight, the object creates a deeper, more memorable experience than a standard album cover.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Mariusz Szypura, 2025
Image Credits: Image #1: Photo by TAKT, Chopin Residue, 2025.
Image #2: Photo by TAKT, Chopin Residue, 2025.
Image #3: Photo by TAKT, Chopin Residue, 2025.
Image #4: Photo by TAKT, Chopin Residue, 2025.
Image #5: Photo by TAKT, Chopin Residue, 2025.

Video Credits: Concept, Direction, Music, and Visuals by Mariusz Szypura, 2025.