The 50 best record sleeves of 2015

Covers for Blur, Bjork and Kendrick Lamar are among 50 sleeves shortlisted in Art Vinyl’s annual cover design competition.

Art Vinyl has compiled its annual shortlist of the 50 best record sleeve designs of the year, which are being put to a public vote in a bid to find the winner.

Art Vinyl has been running its Best Art Vinyl competition for ten years, and this year’s shortlist includes Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, Blur’s The Magic Whip and Bjork’s Vulnicura.

The nominations were chosen by a panel which featured Scott Bendall of La Boca, Davey Spence of Boat Studios, artist Dan Hillier and others.

You can see the full shortlist below and vote for your favourite designs at www.artvinyl.com.

The winning designs will be announced on 7 January 2016.

Audio, Shatterdome. Design by Filthy Media
Audio – Shatterdome. Design by Filthy Media
Jim O'Rourke - Simple Songs. Cover design by Dan Osborn
Jim O’Rourke – Simple Songs. Cover design by Dan Osborn
Joanna Newsom - Divers. Cover features Wildflowers 52i by artist Kim Keever
Joanna Newsom – Divers. Cover features Wildflowers 52i by artist Kim Keever
Kate Boy – One Digital. Cover 3D design by Lee Griggs
Kate Boy – One Digital. Cover 3D design by Lee Griggs
Paul Heaton and Jaqui Abott - Wisdom Laughter and Lines. Artwork by Salvador Design
Paul Heaton and Jaqui Abott – Wisdom Laughter and Lines. Artwork by Salvador Design
Stealing Sheep - Not Real. Photography by Charlotte Rutherford, design by Louise Mason.
Stealing Sheep – Not Real. Photography by Charlotte Rutherford, design by Louise Mason.
Purity Ring – Another Eternity. Illustrations by Tallulah Fontaine, Photography by Renata Raksha, Layout Alison Fielding & Tallulah Fontaine
Purity Ring – Another Eternity. Illustrations by Tallulah Fontaine, Photography by Renata Raksha, Layout Alison Fielding & Tallulah Fontaine
The Decemberists - What a Terrible World What a Beautiful World. Illustration & Lettering Carson Ellis. Photography Autumn de Wilde. Design by Jeri Heiden & Glen Nakasako, Smog Design Inc
The Decemberists – What a Terrible World What a Beautiful World. Illustration & Lettering Carson Ellis. Photography Autumn de Wilde. Design by Jeri Heiden & Glen Nakasako, Smog Design Inc
Shami – Ratchet. Design & Illustration by Mike Zimmerman
Shami – Ratchet. Design & Illustration by Mike Zimmerman
Darkstar - Foam Island. Photography by James Medcraft Design - Build
Darkstar – Foam Island. Photography by James Medcraft
Design – Build
New Order - Music Complete. Design by Peter Saville
New Order – Music Complete. Design by Peter Saville
The Milk - Favourite Worry. Photography by Julian Winslow. Design by Animisiewasz Startt.
The Milk – Favourite Worry. Photography by Julian Winslow. Design by Animisiewasz Startt.
Belle and Sebastian - Peacetime. Photography by Stuart Murdoch Sleeve Design by Emma Howlett
Belle and Sebastian – Peacetime. Photography by Stuart Murdoch Sleeve Design by Emma Howlett
Dodheimsgaard - Umbra Omega. Photography by Erik Aspass Graphic Design by Pia Isaksen
Dodheimsgaard – Umbra Omega. Photography by Erik Aspass Graphic Design by Pia Isaksen
Membranes - Dark Matter Dark Energy. Painting "The Nighmare" by John Henry Fuseli. Design by Altmarkcreative
Membranes – Dark Matter Dark Energy. Painting “The Nighmare” by John Henry Fuseli. Design by Altmarkcreative
Black Rivers - Black Rivers. Illustration & Design Matthew Cooper; Logo design Jason Hyde
Black Rivers – Black Rivers. Illustration & Design Matthew Cooper; Logo design Jason Hyde
Blanck Mass – Dumb Flesh. Artwork by Alex De Mora
Blanck Mass – Dumb Flesh. Artwork by Alex De Mora
Royce Wood Junior – The Ashen Tang. Design by Jonny Epstein
Royce Wood Junior – The Ashen Tang. Design by Jonny Epstein
Clark – Clark. Photography and concept by Alma Haser
Clark – Clark. Photography and concept by Alma Haser
Lapalux - Lustmore. Cover art Marielle Tepper
Lapalux – Lustmore. Cover art Marielle Tepper
Blur - The Magic Whip. Cover art, vinyl art direction and design Tony Hung
Blur – The Magic Whip. Cover art, vinyl art direction and design Tony Hung
Battles - La Di Da Di. Art Direction & Design by Dave Konopka, Photography by Lesley Unruh
Battles – La Di Da Di. Art Direction & Design by Dave Konopka, Photography by Lesley Unruh
Icky Blossom - Mask. Artwork by Derek Pressnall. Layout by Zac Nipper
Icky Blossom – Mask. Artwork by Derek Pressnall. Layout by Zac Nipper
Moire - Gel EP. Artwork by Disguise/Neversleep
Moire – Gel EP. Artwork by Disguise/Neversleep
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis - The Third. Concept and design Kitty, Daisy Lewis, Photography Ben Veasey
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis – The Third. Concept and design Kitty, Daisy Lewis, Photography Ben Veasey
Cheatahs - Mythologies. Artwork and cover design by Spencer at Petting Zoo Prints & Collectables and Marc Raue
Cheatahs – Mythologies. Artwork and cover design by Spencer at Petting Zoo Prints & Collectables and Marc Raue
Leftfield - Alternative Light Source. Cover Image 'School (Classroom)' 1989 by Mark Wallinger
Leftfield – Alternative Light Source. Cover Image ‘School (Classroom)’ 1989 by Mark Wallinger
Fourtet – Morning/Evening. Photography Jason Evans, Design by Matthew Cooper and Jason Evans
Fourtet – Morning/Evening. Photography Jason Evans, Design by Matthew Cooper and Jason Evans
Hotchip - Why Make Sense. Artwork by Nick Relph layout and design by Matthew Cooper
Hotchip – Why Make Sense. Artwork by Nick Relph layout and design by Matthew Cooper
Tamaryn - Cranekiss. Artwork by Shaun Durkan
Tamaryn – Cranekiss. Artwork by Shaun Durkan
Harmlessness - The World is a Beautiful Place. Cover Photography by Jade Downer
Harmlessness – The World is a Beautiful Place. Cover Photography by Jade Downer
And So I Watch You from Afar - Heirs. Artwork layout Sonny Kay
And So I Watch You from Afar – Heirs. Artwork layout Sonny Kay
Blend Mishkin - Survival Of The Fittest. Cover design by Ben Menter. Logo Design by QBMix
Blend Mishkin – Survival Of The Fittest. Cover design by Ben Menter. Logo Design by QBMix
Death and Vanilla - To Where the Wild Things Are. Artwork by Anders Hansson
Death and Vanilla – To Where the Wild Things Are. Artwork by Anders Hansson
Samantha Crain - Under Branch & Thorn & Tree. Artist - Bjorn Bauer
Samantha Crain – Under Branch & Thorn & Tree. Artist – Bjorn Bauer
Everything Everything - Get To Heaven Artwork. Illustrated by Andrew Archer. Design by Jonny Costello, Adult Art Club
Everything Everything – Get To Heaven Artwork. Illustrated by Andrew Archer. Design by Jonny Costello, Adult Art Club
Jamiexx – InColour. Artwork by Jamie Smith & Phil Lee
Jamiexx – InColour. Artwork by Jamie Smith & Phil Lee
Squeeze - Cradle to the Grave. Design & Art Direction Stylorouge, Photography Rob O'Connor
Squeeze – Cradle to the Grave. Design & Art Direction Stylorouge, Photography Rob O’Connor
Tame Impala– Currents. Cover concept by Kevin Parker Artwork and Design by Robert Beatty
Tame Impala– Currents. Cover concept by Kevin Parker Artwork and Design by Robert Beatty
Mercury Rev - The Light in You. Photography Alise Marie. Design Luke Jarvis
Mercury Rev – The Light in You. Photography Alise Marie. Design Luke Jarvis
Bjork - Vulnicura. Cover character by Bjork, headpiece and cape by Maiko Takeda, photography by Inez and Vinoodh
Bjork – Vulnicura. Cover character by Bjork, headpiece and cape by Maiko Takeda, photography by Inez and Vinoodh
Father John Misty - I Love You Honey Bear. Photography Emma Tillman. Design by Alia Penner
Father John Misty – I Love You Honey Bear. Photography Emma Tillman. Design by Alia Penner
Years & Years – Communion. Artwork by Andy Hayes
Years & Years – Communion. Artwork by Andy Hayes
Dave Gilmour – Rattle That Lock. Cover Design Dave Stansbie for Creative Corporation, Original landscape photography by Rupert Truman/Storm Studios
Dave Gilmour – Rattle That Lock. Cover Design Dave Stansbie for Creative Corporation, Original landscape photography by Rupert Truman/Storm Studios
The Pre New - The Male Eunuch. Original painting by Gary Andrew Clark. Sleeve design by Craig Burston and Skipratmedia
The Pre New – The Male Eunuch. Original painting by Gary Andrew Clark. Sleeve design by Craig Burston and Skipratmedia
Steven A Clark - The Lonely Roller. Photography by Nick Simonite, Art Direction & Design by Miles Johnson
Steven A Clark – The Lonely Roller. Photography by Nick Simonite, Art Direction & Design by Miles Johnson
Drenge - Undertow. Photography Donald Milne
Drenge – Undertow. Photography Donald Milne
Kendrick Lamar-To Pimp a Butterfly. Art Direction Kendrick Lamar, Dave Free, Vlad Sepetov
Kendrick Lamar-To Pimp a Butterfly. Art Direction Kendrick Lamar, Dave Free, Vlad Sepetov
Petite Noire - La Vie Est Belle. Cover artwork Lina Viktor Creative Direction by Rochelle Nembhard Design layout Matthew Cooper
Petite Noire – La Vie Est Belle. Cover artwork Lina Viktor Creative Direction by Rochelle Nembhard
Design layout Matthew Cooper

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Linden – Rest and Be Thankful. Artwork by Jim Lambie
Linden – Rest and Be Thankful. Artwork by Jim Lambie
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Comments
  • neil whitehead November 16, 2015 at 5:59 pm

    Pretty boring lot really – and Letraset Compacta Outline?

  • George Kay December 15, 2015 at 10:52 pm

    Have to agree with Neil. Everyone has their own taste of course but few stood out to me personally. Also, a lot of them just seem too trendy but again, each to their own.

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