Ignite Design: Peter Saville

English Graphic Designer and Art director, Peter Saville, is often called the the most famous record cover designer of all time. Born October 1955 he grew up in Manchester, Lancashire. He studied graphics at Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University) and graduated in 1978. Saville co-founded Factory Records and he went on to set up his own design agency, Peter Saville Associations.
The two major things that influenced Saville's style was a book by Herbert Spencer, on modern typography and how it can affect the way we see and interpret music, poetry and art, and the work of typographer Jan Tschichold, who was one of the most powerful influences on twentieth century typography.
Even though Saville designed record sleeves for rock or punk bands he steered clear of the chaotic and punk style graphics other bands were using, instead he used more formal and clean-cut type as well as recreating old photos or paintings to use in his work. Although some of his designs are thought of as enigmatic or ambiguous, it is widely admired and aesthetically pleasing.