Behind the Covers

mtv-era

1 cover story in our archive

Behind the Covers' archive includes 1 album cover documented under the "mtv era" design theme, all from the 1980s. The cover sits within the pop, rock tradition and features work by 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.

Rio by Duran Duran — album cover art

Rio by Duran Duran (1982)

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.

Label
EMI
Designer
Malcolm Garrett
Photographer
Patrick Nagel
Genre
Pop, Rock
Decade
1980s
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