



The Mercury Prize-nominated album Hugo by Loyle Carner, released in 2022, received widespread critical acclaim and was hailed as his most refined work yet. However, the journey to creating Hugo was anything but simple. Our design brief, commissioned by open!, the creative team behind Loyle Carner’s projects, came with a unique challenge: to design a book that reflects the raw, messy creative process behind the album. Hugo: A Process chronicles this non-linear journey through candid, unpolished photographs, offering fans an intimate glimpse into the people, places, ideas, and missteps that shaped the album. It captures behind-the-scenes moments from recording sessions, music video shoots, anticipated launches, and sold-out performances at the Royal Albert Hall.
The design of Hugo: A Process draws inspiration from instruction manuals, using lightweight paper that allows images to subtly bleed through from the adjacent spreads, creating a layered and textured reading experience—much like flipping through a well-worn manual marked with notes and sketches. The grid structure is both rigid and fluid, mirroring the non-linear, sometimes chaotic nature of creativity. This ensures that while the book maintains coherence, it also embraces the spontaneity and unpredictability of artistic exploration.
Encased in a bespoke toolbox designed by @calip.er, Hugo: A Process includes several collectible items curated by open!, making it a true treasure for fans and collectors. However, the book’s purpose extends beyond just being a part of a box set. By showcasing the unfiltered process behind Hugo, it offers young creatives a real-world perspective on artistic development, providing inspiration and practical insight.
In collaboration with Loyle Carner and open!, we have created a book that not only commemorates the album Hugo but also celebrates the complex, unpredictable nature of creativity. Hugo: A Process is an insightful resource, a collector’s item, and an exploration of the artistry of one of today’s most compelling musicians.