make your fridays matter with a well-read weekend

 

Pentagram celebrates 50 years of Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side of the Moon'

Pentagram partners Harry Pearce and Jon Marshall, designed a limited edition collector’s box set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon.

by Sunena V MajuPublished on : Mar 08, 2023

“And if the cloud bursts thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear
And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon”

The image of a prism spectrum on a black background, along with these lyrics, triggers nostalgia not just for a specific generation but for music lovers, across ages. With the release of their eighth studio album The Dark Side of the Moon on March 1, 1973, English rock band Pink Floyd redefined the genre of classical rock. The conceptual album created by bassist/vocalist Roger Waters, guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour, keyboardist/vocalist Rick Wright, and drummer Nick Mason is said to be born from the pressures faced by the band, during their difficult times, exacerbated by the mental health problems of their former band member Syd Barrett. Complementing Pink Floyd’s musical oeuvre, The Dark Side of the Moon, too, relayed social and emotional commentary. As the album completes 50 years in 2023, Pentagram partners Harry Pearce and Jon Marshall, have designed a collector’s edition box set to celebrate the occasion, from their London office.

  • Pentagram’s Jon Marshall designed the three-dimensional elements of the project, creating the boxes which house each of the elements | The Dark Side of the Moon | Pentagram | STIRworld
    Pentagram’s Jon Marshall designed the three-dimensional elements of the project, creating the boxes which house each of the elements Image: Courtesy of Pentagram
  • To create a sense of discovery, different materials were used for each layer of the nested boxes | The Dark Side of the Moon | Pentagram | STIRworld
    To create a sense of discovery, different materials were used for each layer of the nested boxes Image: Courtesy of Pentagram

Inspired by the original packaging design of the album by English graphic designer and music video director Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis, with illustrations by George Hardie, the 50th anniversary edition also builds on the iconic prism design. Marshall used different materials for creating the three-dimensional elements and boxes, which intend to imply a sense of discovery. In layers of packing, the box is unveiled from a completely black exterior cover with an embedded triangle, to a fully gold box in the middle, which carries the original album and the new live album.

The limited edition collector’s box set celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon Video: Courtesy of Pentagram

“Nesting several boxes together was technically challenging as multiple elements were interconnected and needed to fit together precisely. We did not want to use foam or plastic inserts and solved the design through cardboard engineering with extensive prototyping and sampling, working very closely with Aubrey Powell, the record company and with the box set manufacturer. We developed many ideas on the way that helped us build the narrative even if we eventually ruled them out, such as including using a glass prism to recreate the original album cover and creating CD cases that could fold into pyramids,” shares Marshall.  

  • The iconic prism design was the starting point for the new box set | The Dark Side of the Moon | Pentagram | STIRworld
    The iconic prism design was the starting point for the new box set Image: Courtesy of Pentagram
  • There are subtle references to the pyramids throughout the box set, such as the angled cuts on the folder for the poster | The Dark Side of the Moon | Pentagram | STIRworld
    There are subtle references to the pyramids throughout the box set, such as the angled cuts on the folder for the poster Image: Courtesy of Pentagram

The limited edition set includes CD and gatefold vinyl of the new 2023 remastered The Dark Side of The Moon studio album and Blu-Ray + DVD audio featuring the original 5.1 mix and remastered stereo versions. It also comes with an additional new Blu-ray disc of Atmos mix, plus CD and LP of The Dark Side of the Moon - Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974, a 160-page hardback photo book, a music book, replica 7” singles and memorabilia.

  • The Official Pink Floyd 50th Anniversary book included in the box set is designed by Harry Pearce and published by Thames & Hudson | The Dark Side of the Moon | Pentagram | STIRworld
    The official Pink Floyd 50th Anniversary book included in the box set is designed by Harry Pearce and published by Thames & Hudson Image: Courtesy of Pentagram
  • The hardback, album-sized book combines striking layouts with rare and unseen images | The Dark Side of the Moon | Pentagram | STIRworld
    The hardback, album-sized book combines striking layouts with rare and unseen images Image: Courtesy of Pentagram
  • It also includes documentary photography taken by Jill Furmanovsky and the Hipgnosis team during Pink Floyd’s album tours of 1972 to 1975 | The Dark Side of the Moon | Pentagram | STIRworld
    It also includes documentary photography taken by Jill Furmanovsky and the Hipgnosis team during Pink Floyd’s album tours of 1972 to 1975 Image: Courtesy of Pentagram
  • The books also has shots of original album roughs and artwork by Hipgnosis and StormStudios | The Dark Side of the Moon | Pentagram | STIRworld
    The books also has shots of original album roughs and artwork by Hipgnosis and StormStudios Image: Courtesy of Pentagram

The official Pink Floyd 50th anniversary book designed by Pearce and published by Thames & Hudson comprises rare and unseen images of the band. It also includes documentary photography taken by British photographer Jill Furmanovsky and the Hipgnosis team during Pink Floyd’s album tours of 1972 to 1975, as well as shots of original album roughs and artwork by Hipgnosis and StormStudios.

“Picking up on the Hipgnosis theme of ancient Egypt and Pyramids, I thought about the wonderful sense of discovery that’s built into the idea of a nested sarcophagus. The layers and layers reveal memorabilia and at the centre the original The Dark Side of the Moon vinyl. For the ‘live’ album cover we used Hipgnosis's original marked-up artwork. Working with an existing design classics such as The Dark Side of the Moon, it felt wholly wrong to create new conceptual imagery. More importantly, it was about honouring the original concept and complementing it with an empathetic framework,” mentions Pearce. He has previously worked with Hipgnosis and Pink Floyd on its record label identity and Early Years box set.

  • The instantly recognisable sleeve for ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ was originally designed by Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis with illustrations by George Hardie | The Dark Side of the Moon | Pentagram | STIRworld
    The instantly recognisable sleeve for ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ was originally designed by Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis with illustrations by George Hardie Image: Courtesy of Pentagram
  • Pearce has previously worked with Hipgnosis and Pink Floyd on its record label identity and Early Years box set | The Dark Side of the Moon | Pentagram | STIRworld
    Pearce has previously worked with Hipgnosis and Pink Floyd on its record label identity and Early Years box set Image: Courtesy of Pentagram
  • More importantly, it was about honouring the original concept and complementing it with an empathetic framework,” mentions Pearce | The Dark Side of the Moon | Pentagram | STIRworld
    More importantly, it was about honouring the original concept and complementing it with an empathetic framework,” mentions Pearce Image: Courtesy of Pentagram

What do you think?

About Author

Recommended

LOAD MORE
see more articles
4992,4994,4868,4882,4956

make your fridays matter

SUBSCRIBE
This site uses cookies to offer you an improved and personalised experience. If you continue to browse, we will assume your consent for the same.
LEARN MORE AGREE