An illustration of a light switch flipped to the “on” position. The switch is set against a pale pink background, flanked by two orange curved shapes.

Graphic Design: A look at which creatives did some of the Secret 7" record sleeves

Words: Rob Alderson
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Date: 23 April 2014; Work
Graphic Design

And so as Secret 7” draws to a close for another year, it’s always interesting to keep an eye on the big reveal. The sleeves went on sale anonymously on Record Store Day at the weekend, but after that the organisers open up about who did what. So peruse some of those sleeves designed by creatives we know and love below, from Paul Smith and Jeremy Deller to former It’s Nice That Graduates Sarah Maycock and Pat Bradbury.

As ever the real winners are the War Child charity (on whose eBay page you can still bid on the available records) and those who got their lucky mitts on a sleeve (whose joy was captured neatly at the on-site photobooth.).

A collage of two classical stone figures set against a vibrant pink background. One figure leans over another who is reclining on the ground. — Above
Joe Cruz for Secret 7"

Handwritten text in pink, green and red ink on a pale pink background reads “Far beyond the pale Horizon”. The word “Horizon” is misspelled as “Horijon”. — Above
Jeremy Deller for Secret 7"

A square white note with handwritten text. The word “But” is written in pink, with “Wait!” written below in orange. — Above
Jeremy Deller for Secret 7"

Handwritten text in various colours on a pale pink square reads “Throw me a line I’m sinking fast.” The words are written in a loose, casual script. — Above
Jeremy Deller for Secret 7"

A collection of white plastic buckets filled with vibrant, multicoloured paints. The buckets are clustered together, showing a variety of saturated hues including red, yellow, blue, green and purple. — Above
Paul Smith for Secret 7"

A colourful collage featuring abstract shapes, scribbled figures and organic forms. Bright pink, blue and yellow elements are layered over a textured grey background with dark, vertical brushstrokes. — Above
Pat Bradbury for Secret 7"

An abstract drawing featuring a tangle of blue, red and black lines on a white background. A minimalist face is sketched in the lower right, while mechanical, diagram-like shapes float above. — Above
Sarah Maycock for Secret 7"

An illustration of a pair of underwear with a light switch integrated into the front. The switch is flipped to the “on” position, with the word “off” written below it. — Above
Jean Jullien for Secret 7"

A square artwork featuring a vertical strip of dark, swirling organic forms. The fluid, ink-like shapes are set against a black background, flanked by two plain grey panels. — Above
Dan Tobin Smith for Secret 7"

An illustration of a nude figure seen from behind, their long dark hair blowing to the right. A red “X” marks their head and a blue star is etched into their back, all set against a large, glowing pink circle. — Above
Stevie Gee for Secret 7"

A textile work made of black hair on a white background. The hair is arranged to form a rough, square frame with a dense, jagged mass across the bottom. — Above
Ian Wright for Secret 7"

An illustration of a stylised figure against a bright red background. The figure wears a green jacket and yellow trousers, with a purple platform for a head supporting a small yellow bird. — Above
Edward Carvalho-Monaghan for Secret 7"

A vibrant illustration featuring bright pink flamingos on a matching pink background. Two large, light blue hands reach down from the top, surrounded by small green spheres. — Above
HORT for Secret 7"

A graphic illustration of a white vase against a black background. A jagged, black line runs vertically down the centre, suggesting a crack. — Above
HORT for Secret 7"

An abstract black and white print featuring organic, blob-like shapes scattered across a textured background. The dark forms have shimmering, metallic edges and a speckled, grainy surface. — Above
HORT for Secret 7"

An illustration of white, fluid line drawings on a black square background. The abstract shapes overlap and twist, resembling folded fabric or organic forms. — Above
HORT for Secret 7"

A graphic illustration of a bright pink room seen through a grey brick opening. A teal ladder leans diagonally across the space, with a white cloud-like shape floating in the background. — Above
HORT for Secret 7"

A digital illustration of a reclining figure in a high-contrast, saturated colour palette. The figure is rendered in white and blue, set against a vibrant red and pink shape on a pale blue background. — Above
HORT for Secret 7"

A geometric illustration of a stylised face and torso composed of colourful triangles and rectangles. The figure is set against a bright yellow background. — Above
Ben Newman for Secret 7"

An illustration of a giant, winding cigarette on a bright red background. A small person in a blue outfit stands on the orange filter, leaning against a thin black pole. — Above
Rose Blake for Secret 7"

Further Info

www.secret-7.com

About the Author

Rob Alderson

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Rob Alderson is a freelance writer, editor and strategist. He was previously editor-in-chief of It’s Nice That and WePresent, and editor of Design Week. He publishes the newsletter Undo, which tries to make sense of how AI is changing design work, the design process and the design industry.

Graphic Design: A look at which creatives did some of the Secret 7" record sleeves

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