Best Brief Ever

Every now and again someone sends us gold. And this has to be it.

The brief from a client can be a nightmare for some designers, although it’s something that here at tea we enjoy; the process and the excitement of a new project and its out come.

But below has to be one of the best briefs you can get.

The brief was from Mick Jagger to Andy Warhol for an album cover design for the Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers, released in April 1971.

The resulting product was a one of the most original and unique album cover designs done. The design famously featured a crotch clad in tight jeans with a working zipper that opened to reveal a man in cotton briefs.

From left to right: Front cover, Back cover and inside sleeve

The design was conceived by American Pop artist Andy Warhol, photographed by Billy Name and designed by John Pasche. But the design had caused problems after retailers complained that the zipper was causing damage to the vinyl from stacked shipments of the record. The zipper was “unzipped” slightly to the middle of the record, where damage would be minimized. The album cover also features the first usage of the “Tongue and Lip Design” also designed by John Pasche.

We have had the great luck in seeing this design in the flesh as one of the studio members parents owns a original of this album, and it is a truly great example of how creative you can be with this platform.