Visual designers Hipgnosis, renowned for transforming Pink Floyd's albums into aesthetic masterpieces
In the heart of London, in 1967, a creative powerhouse was born. Syd Barrett, a member of Pink Floyd, named both the band and the design collective Hipgnosis. The collective was inscribed on the door of a London flat shared by Barrett and two of his Cambridge friends.
The founders of Hipgnosis were Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell, who had a shared vision for a graphic art studio that would revolutionise album cover design. Thorgerson, one of Barrett's roommates, had first experimented with LSD two years prior to the formation of Hipgnosis.
Powell, on the other hand, trained at the London School of Film Technique and worked as an assistant on BBC television series. His filmmaking background would prove invaluable in creating visually stunning and innovative album covers.
Hipgnosis opened their office on Denmark Street, known as the music publishers' row. This location, steeped in the rich history of the music industry, was the perfect setting for their groundbreaking work.
The collective was a portmanteau word combining "hip" (denoting coolness), "gnosis" (knowledge of the human soul through esoteric paths), and "hypnosis" (altering the state of consciousness to develop imaginative capabilities). This unique name reflected the group's aim to push the boundaries of artistic expression.
Over the years, Hipgnosis was responsible for designing many iconic album covers, including Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" and "Wish You Were Here". Their work has left an indelible mark on the music industry, setting a new standard for album cover design.
Despite their success, much of the rest of the story remains reserved for subscribers. However, it's clear that the formation of Hipgnosis marked a pivotal moment in the history of both Pink Floyd and the music industry as a whole.
The acclaimed graphic art studio, Hipgnosis, established in 1967, aimed to revolutionize album cover design, with its founders, Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. Hipgnosis, located on Denmark Street - the music publishers' row, created visually striking covers for various albums, such as Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" and "Wish You Were Here," significantly impacting the music industry's standard for album cover design.
