Lyrics-In-The-Box
Alex Liao
With a mix of sugar, spice, and a little bit of chaos, Lyrics-In-The-Box highlights underappreciated independent music artists and designers. Their work is translated into collectible flipbooks, bringing digital music visuals into physical form. Each volume explores the unique perspectives of approximately five musicians in collaboration with a designer. A book contains a motion flipbook, information about the music artist and their submission, and an interview deck to learn more about the artist’s lifestyle. The slipcase enables the collection of a series, similarly to artist vinyl records and manga volumes, which contain numerous individual pieces, yet are still under one set.
The publication embraces both dialogue and chance: designers either co-create or work independently, with the final visuals revealed only in the publication. Part anthology, part object, and part invitation to wonder, Lyrics-In-The-Box brings surprises into the music world through its playful twist on discovery, collaboration, and the trickery of making music tangible.
This project encapsulates my love for music, illustration, and motion graphics. It draws inspiration from my cumulative experiences working with my friends to create lyric videos throughout my years in college. In response to the increasingly digital nature of music culture, I sought to discover a more personal, tactile adventure for music lovers and give them a closer understanding of the artists behind the digital music. The daily interactions with my friends became a core system of this anthology—one that fosters closer connections between audiences and artists while celebrating the intimacy and joy of small creative communities.