Is inconsistent the same as bad though? I would say not, contrast can be beautiful and fully intentional.
Comparing a steelbook design to the design of a chair is an intrinsically flawed argument. The steelbook serves no pragmatic purpose but to hold a disk, and this steelbook does this. According to your argument, this steelbook is perfect. Practical design is objective, aesthetic design is subjective.
I see where you're coming from, but I disagree with you.
contrast can be beautiful, when done right. check any (if not all) Eureka steels for great examples of how contrast works. This steelbook is an example of how not to do it.
I would say a steelbook has evolved to become more than just a disc holder. At first they were merely special edition cases, but over time they have become more aesthetically pleasing. Ie it is almost standard now for steels to not feature the synopsis of the film on the back, it is almost standard for them to be free of rating symbols and text stating how great the film is etc. They are now almost completely created with 'the look' in mind. So the steelbook is like a piece of art in its own right.
So its function is not just to house film media, but to also be 'beautiful.' As i said before, a good artist/designer will know the tried and tested formula of how to create something that is visually pleasing. And yes, there are rules. Of course these can and are broken to create something 'new' or 'original,' but generally, there are design rules.
People (whether art minded or not) can appreciate if something is pleasing to the eye or not, as the method has been mastered through the generations so we recognise 'beauty' when we see it. everyone knows what beauty is, or, everyone has an idea of what beauty is. I would say generally, it is the group that decide ultimately if something is beautiful or not.
It seems the majority of people agree this steelbook simply does not work, aesthetically. its not visually pleasing on a whole as a steelbook.
---------- Post added at 06:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:39 PM ----------
well I think let's agree to disagree, I'm for one who not so crazy about front and back... but one thing I'm sure that most of people here DO NOT just buy the steelbook because it holds the discs... if that's JUST the purpose of the steelbooks most of us wouldn't even be here...
I agree. I have decided not to buy some steelbook editions of films i really like or wanted, because i didnt like the art. If i were buying the steelbooks just for the film, ignoring what the steel looks like, i would have lots more in my collection.
To me, the difference between art i like and one i dont is the difference between instant buy, and wait for a price drop (or not buy at all). Personally, i love the front of this steelbook, but i will wait until its cheaper.
