039: Andy Mueller (Ohio Girl Design, The Quiet Life)

Today’s guest is ANDY MUELLER — designer, photographer, art director, filmmaker, business owner, record label founder, & longtime visual wizard of HUM-world.As with Love Cup last time around, Andy’s been mentioned in almost every episode, & for good reason. In 1993, he founded OHIO GIRL DESIGN CO., a Chicago-based art studio with an amazing portfolio that looks more & more influential with every passing year. He’s done image & packaging work for artists ranging from HUM & Shiner, to Castor, Braid, Menthol, Jimmy Eat World, Molly McGuire, Trans Am, & many others.Across the late ‘90s & early 2000s, his Ohio Girl offshoot label Ohio Gold Records released albums by Dianogah, C-Clamp, the Zincs, & Pinebender, for all of whom he also did design & photography.He started THE QUIET LIFE clothing company in 1997 & has run it full-time ever since. They have an always-updating online store, as well as a flagship location in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.In this episode, we discuss the spooky alchemy of photography, dissect the design of HUM’s 3 most recent records, & explore the surprising monumentality of a less-is-more approach.****VERY IMPORTANT: We talk about lots & lots of images in detail during this conversation, & a 50-page PDF of those is linked below.[Some quick factual corrections: the R.E.M. album with Starn Twins photography is actually Out of Time from 1991, & the photographer behind the “Green to Me” single cover is ALISON DYER.]****IMAGES WE DISCUSS****THE QUIET LIFE****TIMESTAMPS:03:12 // Pinebender, "California" (Ohio Gold Records)04:42 // Ohio Girl Origins & Early Influences13:27 // Steakdaddy Six, the U. of I., & Honcho Overload27:40 // Y.P.A.A. Design45:46 // Ohio Girl Credits50:38 // Y.P.A.A. Design, Part 201:07:54 // "The Pod" & "Stars" Videos01:16:51 // D.I.H. Design01:30:14 // "Puppets" & "Comin' Home" EP Designs01:34:25 // Inlet Design01:41:37 // '90s Album Art Peers01:45:31 // C-Clamp, "Morning" (Ohio Gold Records)****Support the show!**** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.