Drawn

The Criterion Collection is lauded for its special edition releases of “important classic and contemporary films” on DVD, but what’s always grabbed me about their work is the packaging. The series sports original artwork for each title, the designs of which are shining examples of restraint, simplicity, and elegance. No giant red type screaming EXTREME UNRATED EDITION here, folks. Take this cover for Robinson Crusoe on Mars, for example — simple, bold type over a Bill Sienkiewicz illustration. They make it look so easy.

Via the comments of a blog post called An Ode to Criterion Box Art, I discovered that much of Criterion’s design work is by designer/illustrator Eric Skillman who was certainly born into the right last name. Eric also keeps a design process blog called Cozy Lummox.