Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)
Founded in 1967 by visionary duo Aubrey “Po” Powell and Storm Thorgerson, Hipgnosis was a design collective responsible for some of the most iconic album artworks of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.
Wishbone Ash - Just Testing (1980)
Operating out of their studio on Denmark Street in Soho, London, Hipgnosis quickly became the go to place for musicians seeking striking cover art. One of the duo’s earliest commissions was Pink Floyd’s A Saucerful of Secrets - an amalgamation of cryptic references, including a Dr. Strange comic panel, an eerie band photo and fragments from a 17th century painting.
Pink Floyd – A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)
This marked the beginning of a long standing relationship with the band, designing the majority of their artworks including the iconic Dark Side of the Moon cover. From there, they went on to shape the visuals for some of the era’s most influential artists, including Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, T.Rex and many more.
Led Zeppelin – Presence (1976)
AC/DC – Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
With limited digital resources, every detail had to be meticulously planned. Powell recalls “We didn’t have Photoshop. Everything had to be shot on film and done by hand.” Which resulted in trips to the Sahara Desert with 120 red footballs for Elegy by The Nice, and setting a man on fire in the Warner Bros. back lot for Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here. “An average artwork could take three to six weeks, whereas you could do some of these album covers in an afternoon now.”
The Nice - Elegy (1971)
Def Leppard - High 'n' Dry (1981)
By the early ‘80s, changes in the music industry and shifts in commercial expectations made Hipgnosis’ ambitious style harder to sustain. The studio closed its doors in the early 80s, however Aubrey “Po” Powell and Storm Thorgerson left behind a legacy that still shapes and inspires contemporary design today.
