Makeup and Vanity Set / 88:88 (2012)

Creative DirectionProductionGraphic Design
Written By Steve Jenkins

88:88 is a very special album to me. I often list it as my favorite album, especially since I’ve purchased hundreds of copies of it, later to resell as part of the inaugural releases on my record label, Telefuture. It’s also an album that has gone on to have over 10 million streams on Spotify alone.

While the album itself was created as an inspiration from a short film, I wanted to create an extension of this train of thought. Something that stood out from any other album I had ever seen; A physical product that complimented the rest of the work that surrounded it. A physical manifestation of a soundtrack to a feature-length film that never existed… 

The result was releasing 88:88 on VHS.

I hand-dubbed each limited edition copy of the VHS on my homemade duplicating rig, connecting my Playstation 3 to my VCR and monitoring each dub live, in real time, for all 88 limited edition copies. On the VHS, imagery flickered in and out as if there were hidden messages eroded by a mysterious force, while 88:88’s audio played in its entirety. The cover art and poster was designed by Caspar Newbolt, using custom templates I created for the set. Covers were hand cut and assembled, while labels were printed at home and applied by hand. Motion graphics were done by Joey Ciccoline, who also did visual effects for LandLocked.

The final product came from these inspirations and more: Analog media from the 80s, the sights and sounds of classic films from the same era, and a profound love of strange yet collectible products. Working closely with an extremely talented team consisting of a graphic designer, a film director, and a musician, I was able to convince them that this was a marketable idea, and guide them toward the final result. I was happy to succeed at providing a unique vision and leading others towards its creation.

Together, we went on to create vinyl and cassette versions of the release with a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, but the VHS version has always felt like the most iconic, standout version. A one of a kind project? Yes. A strange one? Also, yes. In the end, the limited edition sold out in a matter of hours and is now a collector’s item that sells for hundreds of dollars at online auction sites; A highly desired item for fans of the Synthwave music genre. In time, I went on to collaborate on numerous other releases from Makeup and Vanity Set, music from which has been featured in Stranger Things (2022), Godzilla vs. King Kong (2020), and more.

Past makeup and Vanity Set Collaborations Include

  • Groupees Bundle production, benefitting The Trevor Project

    • Creating incentives for backers, both physical and digital

    • Branded designs

    • Curation and production of bundles, incentives

    • Desiged mockups

  • Wilderness

    • Vinyl production, project management, and distribution

    • Merchandising (shirts, buttons, posters, etc.)

    • Marketing

  • Charles Park Trilogy

    • Custom 3 CD set project management and distribution

    • Custom obi strip package, hand cut and folded

    • Designed custom 1” button pin and poster set

  • Brigador, Vol. 1 & 2

    • Vinyl distribution

    • Copywriting

  • 7.25.2148

    • Project management for CD production

    • Custom hand-folded j-card and sleeve

    • Designed custom 1” pin and poster set

  • Manifold

    • Cassette design and layout

    • Custom hand cut, printed, folded and stamped j-card

Steve Jenkins
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