Designer
I thought it would be cool to play on the original vibe. I got my inks and photocopies and collaged a sequence from the original Boys Don't Cry still, and made him almost magician-like, announcing the very special band line-up.
I created it organically from lots of photocopied photos. Cut them, screwed with them, tore them – thus the background was born.
I had total creative freedom – in fact, this was the best project.
I did it to make a difference. We need to invest in the younger generation; they are our future, and for me, that's what the Teenage Cancer Trust does.
I've always created a new logo for each album. The logo is designed to correspond with the artwork and respond to the music.
The visuals are a designed response to this melancholic sound, interpreting the desolation by portraying a kind of death mask from a forgotten world.
Creative Boom profiles veteran designer Andy Vella’s poster series for the Teenage Cancer Trust 2026 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. The project, curated by Robert Smith of The Cure, features six gig posters and art prints for each performing band, unified by Vella’s energetic collage style and a custom distressed typeface. The artworks were screen-printed at White Duck Editions, with proceeds supporting the charity’s work with young people.
Creative Boom features designer Andy Vella discussing his process for creating the artwork and campaign for The Cure's 2024 album 'Songs of a Lost World'. Vella details his long collaboration with Robert Smith, the conceptual use of Janez Pirnat’s sculpture, and the integration of 3D animation, eco materials, and custom typography. The project extended across album packaging, global teaser campaigns, and digital media, reinforcing The Cure’s visual legacy.