The Dresden Dolls

Album cover

Objective

Redesign an existing full-length album cover to create a fresh visual interpretation that reflects the tone, themes, and mood of the music. Capture the essence of the album through updated typography, imagery, and layout while maintaining a strong connection to the artist’s identity.

Summary

The Dresden Dolls (2003) is the debut studio album by music duo The Dresden Dolls, known for their self-described "cabaret punk” sound. The album mixes unorthodox instruments, theatrical vocals, and raw emotion to explore ideas of performance, identity, and vulnerability.

Process

Moodboard

Sketches

For my redesign, I wanted to capture the raw, off-beat energy of the album. The music is strange and highly theatrical, often jumping from loud, explosive moments to soft, quiet ones. My goal was to create a design that felt both hard and soft at the same time, something that reflected the strangeness and unpredictability of the sound.

My final direction came from combining two moodboards, drawing inspiration from surreal imagery and layered textures. I also looked to theatre, cabaret and Victorian aesthetics, which are common visuals in the band’s music videos.