It has been great to see David Bowie’s return to the recording studio and the release of his new album “The Next Day”. However we think that the cover design is bound to be a talking point. The cover uses the original Heroes design with a white square obscuring the musicians face, which is going to leave a few people wondering why not an new image?
It was interesting to read the designers (Jonathan Barnbook) rationale behind the concept – embracing the idea that no matter how much you try and escape your past, you are always going to be compared to it.
Sometimes the most simple designs can be the most thought provoking – as Rene Magritte quoted about his own self portrait – The Son of Man or more commonly known The Faceless Businessman, “There is an interest in that which is hidden and which the visible does not show us”.
The full interview with the designer is definitely worth a read.
http://virusfonts.com/news/2013/01/david-bowie-the-next-day-that-album-cover-design/