3 cover stories in our archive
Behind the Covers' archive includes 3 album covers documented under the "fashion" design theme, spanning the 1980s, 1990s, 2010s. These covers sit within the hip-hop, pop, electronic, rock tradition and feature work by Tyler, the Creator, Björk, Duran Duran. Each entry below includes the cover artwork, the designers and photographers behind it, and a short story about the visual choices that defined the release.
Tyler in a platinum blonde wig, mint-green suit, and dark sunglasses against bright pink — introducing the lovesick alter ego 'Igor' and marking a dramatic departure from his earlier punk-rap visual identity toward retro-mod sophistication.
Stéphane Sednaoui captured Björk radiating playful, extraterrestrial energy against vivid, high-saturation backgrounds — reflecting her eclectic sonic ambition that incorporated trip-hop, industrial, jazz, and electronic music.
Patrick Nagel's striking illustration of model Marielle Gomar became one of the 1980s most recognizable album covers, featuring bold geometric shapes and vivid colors that perfectly captured MTV's new aesthetic. The artwork was created as an illustration, not a photograph, using Nagel's signature airbrush technique.