We all have favorite album covers. Sometimes, this affection leads us to look at the full range of design that composes a recording artist’s “brand.” Whenever I see interesting music design, I am always most interested in what that designer is doing when they aren’t working for a client. Almost all music designers have an expansive collection of fine art which is often just as interesting as what they are doing for bands. This is natural, because music graphics are a very equal blend of functional design with conceptual art.

In this gallery, it should be noted that some of these designers, such as Shepard Fairey and Idris Khan, are known primarily as artists, not graphic designers. But again, the line between the two in this industry is very fine.

Rob Sheridan, Nine Inch Nails
www.rob-sheridan.com

Nine Inch Nails, With Teeth

Headache

We Could Build a Better Robot, If We Only Had Arms

Eduardo Recife, Panic! at the Disco
www.misprintedtype.com
www.eduardorecife.com

Panic! at the Disco T-Shirt

The Truth

The Art of Losing

Lost Paradise

New Heights by Eduardo Recife

Shepard Fairey, Smashing Pumpkins
www.obeygiant.com

Smashing Pumpkins, Zeitgeist

Mujer Fatal Mural

No, I’m Vegetarian

Duality of Humanity

Big Brother City

Stanley Donwood, Radiohead
www.slowlydownward.com

In Rainbows

Amnesiac

United States

Residential Nemesis

Meteor Oligarchy

Glass House Disaster

Idris Khan, Editors

An End Has a Start

every…Page of the Holy Koran

every…Bernd and Hilla Becher Spherical Type Gasholders

every…William Turner Postcard from Tate Britain

Note:
Obviously, this is just scratching the surface of the vast pool of music designers out there creating great fine art. However, putting together a gallery like this takes a great deal of time. I plan on revisiting the subject again, and recommendations are welcome.