The challenge was to visually express Cage’s ironic take on imitation through packaging and promotional material. The project needed to:

Subvert expectations of vinyl packaging

Reflect Cage’s avant-garde approach

Use visual deception to prompt the viewer to question presentation and value

I explored visual deception, consumer perception, and disposable design language. Early concepts involved mocking famous album covers, but I chose the pizza box for its associations with disposability and surprise.
The goal wasn’t to fool the viewer, but to create a moment of hesitation—making them pause and question the object’s intent. That moment is where the true deception lives.

Vinyl Packaging:

The Pizza BoxCustom box (20.1” x 10”) with a minimalist, text-based cover

Inside reveals a banana face vinyl, adding humor and surrealism

Typography and layout echo generic, utilitarian packaging

The contrast between outer simplicity and inner absurdity asks: can something that looks cheap still feel valuable?

Music Show Poster

Designed to mimic low-budget print posters

Used bold fonts, saturated color, and intentional visual flaws

Ambiguous details and fictitious artists to match the experimental tone

The packaging and poster worked together to challenge conventional presentation, flipping expectations and sparking curiosity. A pizza box housing a vinyl invites viewers to reconsider value in design and art.

This project taught me how intentional design choices shape perception. I learned:

Presentation is perception

"Cheap" visuals can carry depth and meaning

Subverting expectations can spark curiosity and engagementCheap Imitation let me explore the space between art and the everyday—where design can be both playful and critical.