Show Notes
Hello and best wishes for the festive season. My gift to you is a brand new episode of the ‘Art on your sleeve’ podcast. In this episode I speak with Paula Benson and Paul West from Form. There’s a lot that I could say about this dynamic duo and their extraordinarily diverse pop portfolio, but it’s probably easier to let them speak for themselves. So, here’s a bit of an introduction lifted directly from their website.
In the early 1990’s founding partners Paul West and Paula Benson opened the London doors of graphic design and branding studio Form with two core philosophies: to create work we are proud of and to build real value for our clients through our thinking and particular approach to bold and recognisable design. With a background in music, within a few years we had worked with most of the major and indie record companies within the UK. We evolved by taking our passion to a wider range of clients in other sectors whilst winning awards for our creativity and gaining international respect along the way. Three decades later we remain just as enthusiastic about outstanding design and engaging communications – and the power they have to transform our clients’ products and services. We are problem solvers and ensure our work connects with the target audience by understanding our client’s goals and needs in an ever-changing market place.
I spent a fantastic afternoon with Paula and Paul at at their studio, digging through an archive of incredible creativity. We reminisced about the many great artists that they have worked with over the last 30+ years, including Cocteau Twins, East 17, Deuce, 2wo Third3, Everything but the Girl, Scritti Politti, Natalie Imbruglia, Girls Aloud, Depeche Mode and Bright Light Bright Light, and many more. The podcast was recorded whilst quite literally sitting within their personal pop archive, so, at times, things get a bit crinkly and crunchy as we dig out way through parcels and packages filled with decades of delightful design. Hopefully, it doesn’t spoil things for you, just try to imagine yourself within the space and go with it!
Stay up to date with Form online: Website: form.uk.com Instagram: @Formukdesign Facebook: Form Design and Branding X/Twitter: @Form_design YouTube: Channel Form
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to Art on your sleeve at Apple Podcasts HERE or wherever you listen to your favourite shows, and if you’re very nice, you could give us some stars or a positive review. Art on your sleeve is also available on most popular podcast platforms, including Spotify, Soundcloud and Google Podcasts.
Art on your sleeve has an active Facebook group where additional content is shared, and you’re welcome to join. See you online… https://www.facebook.com/groups/442664446671424
More from Art on your sleeve
On 19 March 1990, Depeche Mode released what is still considered their finest album - 'Violator'. Anton Corbijn created its sleeve with assistance from graphic designer Richard Smith of Area. The two would go on to collaborate on dozens of sleeves for a wide range of artists, but to celebrate this seminal album's 35th birthday, I spoke to Richard about his creative involvement.
Graphic designer, painter and sleeve artist, Andie Airfix was born in Scotland but grew up in Warrington in the north west of England. After studying art and English literature at Chester teacher training college, he spent almost a year teaching art and English in Southampton. In 1970 he started travelling around the USA, Canada and Mexico, a trip funded by selling psychedelic paintings to poster companies in New York and San Francisco. On his return to the UK, he spent some time in Devon where he concentrated on painting and writing before heading off again to India for a few years.
This episode of the podcast is a bit different... Instead of our usual, reverent look back at examples of the best in record sleeve creativity, we dig into its darkest and often unexplored corners of obscurity to expose some of the worst, or at best, most bizarre record sleeves ever created.
In this episode, I speak with Andy McCluskey, lead vocalist of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, or OMD, as they are more commonly known. Andy formed OMD with co-writer and occasional co-vocalist, Paul Humphreys, at the tail-end of the 1970s. Their self-titled debut album (and its follow-up) was released in 1980 at the dawn of electronic pop, just as synthesised sounds were easing their way into the mainstream - and this is where our story begins.
In this episode of Art on your sleeve, I speak with painter and former graphic designer, David Storey. David's career designing record sleeves began in the 1970s when he landed a job straight out of design school working for Elton John's Rocket Records. This position provided a crucial platform for him to build a career in the industry leading to his renowned work for the 2 Tone record label. 2 Tone spawned a raft of charting artists including Madness, The Specials, Bad Manners, The Selecter, The beat, The Bodysnatchers and so many more, all of whom received the design treatment of David, often under the creative direction of label boss (and member of The Specials), Jerry Dammers.