Dissertation

CONCLUSION
Throughout this dissertation there has been an emphasis
on style. Style is not specifically timeless but can be iconic.
Style is a key identifier of the time period and of what society
was in that moment of history. Graphic design and art
direction are directly affected by society and therefore are
part of the ephemeral style chain. Designers use their visual
environment and client objectives to form visual solutions to
the client’s problems; the product formed then becomes an
artifact in
our society. Designers create an integral part of our visual
language and our visual world. These artifacts or record
covers then move into and become part of our identity.
The mainstream music industry consumer and society are
visually projected with their own society values and cultural,
social, economic, political issues and the world they live in.
Therefore record covers are a response piece to the cultural,
social, economic, political issues of that time and become
pop culture relics.
Record covers may not be distributed and packaged the same
as they were in the pre-digital era but the future of graphic
design and art direction in the mainstream music industry
are looking very positive as streaming sales have increased.
Designer Storm Thorgerson is quoted in Heller’s book POP,
How Graphic Design Shapes Pop Culture. Thorgerson (2010,
227) states ‘So long as visual material is welcomed alongside
music, they’ll always be opportunities for designers to produce
music packaging, no matter the format, and no matter the
size.’ Regardless of technological advancements and changes
in society, graphic design and art direction will adapt.
Clem Onojeghuo, Photography, 5400 × 3696px, 2016, London
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