STRANGER THINGS:
Worlds Turned Upside Down
Patient
- Melcher Media
- Del Rey
- Netflix
Treatment
- Design
- Artifact creation
Diagnosis
Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down is the official behind-the-scenes companion to the smash Netflix series. Designed to mimic a well-worn second hand genre novel from the ’80s, the book covers the making of the hit show’s first two seasons and is filled with illustrated footnotes, behind-the scenes photos and stories, hidden messages, and a sneak-peek at the third season.
• 7 x 10 • mylar wrapped jacket with die-cut tears and condition sticker • foil stamped case • 224 pages, 4-color hardback book • removable Morse decoder disc and folded map
Jacket illustrations by Kyle Lambert
Product photos by Oskar Kalinowski
Accolades
- Communication Arts Design Annual 60, 2019
The jacket comes wrapped in protective Mylar—the way collectible used books are sold—and looks authentically tattered via die cut tears and digital distressing. To complete the illusion, an actual condition sticker is glued to the Mylar, and the books “condition” is written in pencil on the first page.
The foil-stamped “ST” motif on the case riffs on the “SK” that’s stamped on most Stephen King hardbacks from the ’80s.
Character profiles for the main gang are designed as their Dungeons & Dragons player sheets. We added heavy grain and lighting effects to the portrait photography to emulate retro photo styles. Prop shots give a peek into their backpacks, providing further insight into their personalities.
Illustrated footnotes explain the show’s many homages and reference points, as well as giving further information on hella ’80s culture that pops up in the series.
A photographic essay compares and contrasts the Wheelers’ nouveau-riche home with the Byerses’ shabbier abode.
The older teens’ profiles are designed as yearbook spreads, complete with school portraits and the Hawkins High mascot.
Investigative file reports from the Hawkins Lab provide the visual theme for Eleven, Joyce, and Hopper.
Sidebars are designed like totally rad ’80s styled ads for Betamax, BMX bikes, and music clubs.
Eagle-eyed readers can spot Morse code hidden throughout the book. Tucked into the book is a decoder that can be used to translate a secret message.
Will’s drawing of the Mind Flayer on the reversed side of the jacket provides one last surprise for readers to discover.
