Cover sleeve for a long-playing record by the band Osibisa. Design and illustration by Roger Dean. Issued by MCA Records and distributed by GMI Records, 1977.

Cover sleeve for a long-playing record by the band Osibisa.

Given by Roger Dean

Historical significance: Dean's importance lies in the fact that he was the first sleeve designer to work consistently with groups and become noted in his own right as a creative contributor to the appearance of a group. He has influenced designers in the 1980s such as Ian Anderson of the Designers Republic and in some ways established the profession of sleeve designer.

Dean's work represents an important stylistic phase in pre-punk Britain that grew out of the psychedelic work of Michael English in the 1960s. His general importance to the British record industry is attested by Richard Branson's commission for a label logo for his newly formed Virgin Records in 1970.

Roger Dean trained as a furniture designer and although he is best known for his record sleeve artwork his main concerns are still with the three-dimensional object. (He has designed chairs, interiors and houses and is currently (1991) exploring the possibility of designing a theme-park with a Japanese company.)

Dean graduated from the RCA in 1968 and in the same year designed the seating for the club 'Upstairs' at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. His interests in architectonic and organic forms are reflected in his sleeve art. His work for the rock group Yes established a strong 'corporate identity' further enhanced with the 'organic' logotype (ca.1971). He began designing stage sets for the group in 1972 which reflected the sleeve designs.

E.2478-1991