The 90s Music Revolution: The Rise of CDs and the Fall of Cassette Tapes and Vinyl Records

If you were alive and kicking when the 90s came along, then you probably remember CDs taking over and supplanting cassette tapes and vinyl records to the point where (from a financial standpoint) the latter formats were not worth the trouble of producing. CDs promised crystal clear sound and a sort of permanence that convinced most folks to purchase their entire music catalogs again.

With the new millennium, however, CDs lost their grip on the market to the Internet pirates and (later) to the mp3 format. And while to this day the music industry remains in a bit of a no man's land with regard to a format that suits consumer demands, a widespread reassessment has taken place with regard to the benefits of prior formats.

One of the more interesting rediscoveries people have made is that vinyl records remain light years ahead of the other formats when it comes to being able to appreciate album artwork and overall package design. They are larger, which allows them to make a much nicer display than other formats that would look much like a smudge on the wall if displayed.

Plus, they have to be handled more frequently. True, there are times when flipping a record is a little high maintenance, but what it affords the listener is actually more chances to hold and appreciate the record, sleeve, and jacket.

When music is just another small drop of data in our ocean-sized computers, design doesn't make much of an impact (if any). Vinyl record albums are colorful, tangible reminders that art and design are their own reward and can be appreciated visually just as much as the music is aurally.

Websites are the same in the sense that they can be designed well and be pleasing to the eye, even while displaying the same content and information. This is something we believe and apply to our practice on a daily basis.