Best of 2016

Album Art
It's no surprise that Bon Iver's 22, A Million is appearing in this collection... It's probably my favorite record of the year and the album artwork and promotional graphics are intricate and offbeat. I'm drawn to the severe color palette and the intricate (and weird) illustrations/doodles that designer Eric Timothy Carlson created in partnership with Bon Iver. 

Book Covers
Year after year, I am still most excited to dig through some of the year's best book covers. Here are three that I think represent innovative, exciting, and well-thought out work. I think I am most drawn to the typography in the Version Control cover, hinting at it's science-fiction plot. The background illustration is vague and perfectly obscured.

Movie Posters
Not only is Moonlight my favorite movie of the year, but the movie poster is just as evocative, moving, and beautiful as the movie. The three actors who play Chiron during three distinct periods in his life. The poster breaks and re-configures Chiron's face to reflect his growth through his childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Plus – the coloring and lighting is moody and beautiful, just like the entire film.