Album Art: New Music Graphics

The definitive guide to album cover design in the 21st century

We are in the middle of one of the greatest periods in music packaging. Collectible packaging is back at the cultural vanguard: physical records are coveted by millennials, and hip clothing outlets devote massive amounts of space to record players and racks of LPs.

Album Art profiles thirty-three designers at the forefront of this movement, among them Braulio Amado, Chris Bigg, Brian Roettinger and Jonathan Barnbrook. They reveal and analyse the creative process behind each design, offering exclusive insights into how they are able to elevate the simple record cover into something more, something special, something unique, something memorable. Exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the field, including Stefan Sagmeister and Paula Scher, accompany the profiles. The designers aren’t the only stars of the show – the book reproduces and discusses sleeve designs for such artists as David Bowie, Tame Impala, Kesha, Kim Deal, David Sylvian, The Flaming Lips, Queens of the Stone Age, and more.

Packed with innovative artworks by one-of-a-kind designers, this is the definitive guide to album cover design in the 21st century.

Contents List

Introduction • Braulio Amadao, Portugal/USA • Bad People Good Things, USA • Jonathan Barnbrook, UK • Robert Beatty, USA • Chris Bigg, UK • Interview with Stefan Sagmeister • Featured: Dean Blackwood & Susan Archie • Daniel Castrejon, Mexico • Michael Cina, USA • Jacob Escobedo, USA • Jad Fair, USA • Feld, Germany • Interview with Art Chantry • Featured: Eric Carlson • Oliver Hibert, USA • Jacob Gronbech Jensen, Denmark • Mario Hugo, USA • Hvass & Hannibal, Denmark • Invisible Creature, USA • Morning Breath, USA • Interview: Paula Scher • Featured: Ben Newman • Non-Format, Norway/USA • Darren Orloff, Australia • Leif Podhajsky, Australia/Germany • Brian Roettinger, USA • Sam Ryser, USA • Interview: Spencer Drate & Judith Salavetz • Featured : Henry Owings • SchultzSchultz, USA • Sonnenzimmer, USA • Sub Pop Design Department, USA • Featured: Stijn Anseel • Featured: Agi Morawska • Featured: Heike-Karin Foll

About the Author

John Foster is the founder and Principal of the design company Bad People Good Things. He is the author of numerous books, most recently New Masters of Poster Design and Paper and Ink Workshop, and has written columns on design and on music packaging for howdesign.com, brightestyoungthings.com and rockpaperink.com.