British graphic designer (born 1960)
Mark Farrow
RDI
(born 1960)
[1]
is a
British
graphic designer known for his work with English music label
Factory Records
and
Manchester
nightclub
The Hacienda
. He has also done work for bands such as
Pet Shop Boys
and
Spiritualized
. In 2009 he was named a
Royal Designer for Industry
(RDI) by the
Royal Society of Arts
.
Early life
[
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]
Farrow attended art college for a short time but quit to work in a Manchester design studio. He also worked at The Discount Record Shop in Manchester's Underground Market. With the advent of
punk rock
, the shop was frequented by clientele like
Ben Kelly
and
Peter Saville
, both connected to
Factory Records
and
The Hacienda
nightclub.
[2]
[3]
Design work
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]
In 1982, after befriending groups as part of the Manchester scene, Farrow was given the chance to design the cover for the
7-inch single
"Fairy Tales" by the
Stockholm Monsters
, a Factory release. Throughout the early 80s, he designed experimental sleeves and posters for both Factory and The Hacienda, which placed him at the forefront of contemporary music graphic design.
[2]
After 1991, Farrow began working under the name of his studio, Farrow Design.
Farrow has had a longstanding creative partnership with
Pet Shop Boys
[4]
[5]
and other bands such as the
space rock
group
Spiritualized
.
[6]
[7]
As the 12" vinyl went out of style, Farrow challenged contemporary notions of CD packaging. For Pet Shop Boys' 1993 release
Very
, Farrow designed an "orange Lego®" CD jewel box which is featured in the New York
Museum of Modern Art
.
[8]
In the mid-90s, Farrow designed the cover for
Everything Must Go
(1996), the breakthrough album by the
Manic Street Preachers
.
[9]
For Spiritualized's 1997 album
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
, he used an authentic tablet blister-pack which contained the CDs and accompanying text. For their 2001 release
Let it Come Down
, he included a 3-D, vacuum-formed face as part of the cover.
[2]
He has also worked with artists such as
Kylie Minogue
,
Burt Bacharach
,
Calvin Harris
, and
Snow Patrol
.
[10]
Farrow also works outside of the music industry, for designers, photographers, publishers, and other industry projects. He has worked with
Oliver Peyton
on restaurants and bars, designed the cover of the 1999
Design and Art Direction
annual, worked with SCP furniture on designing clocks, developed a packaging system for
Levi's
, collaborated with
The Science Museum
in London, and designed a yacht for Campers'
Volvo Ocean Race
.
[11]
[12]
His minimalist approach, and a rigorous, highly precise attention to detail defines his aesthetic. He enjoys close, collaborative work.
[2]
Awards
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]
Farrow was named Designer of the Year in the
Creative Review
Peer Poll in 2004, voting him ‘the most important graphic designer working today’.
In 2009, by which time he had won nine
Design and Art Direction
Silver Awards, he was given the honour of
Royal Designer for Industry
(RDI) by the
Royal Society of Arts
.
[2]
[13]
Farrow also has four
Grammy Award
nominations, 10 Music Week CAD awards, and two Art Directors Club of Europe Gold Awards.
[10]
References
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]
External links
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]