Mark Farrow

Mark Farrow (born May 1960) is a British graphic designer known for his work with English music label Factory Records and Manchester nightclub The Haçienda. He has also done work for bands such as Pet Shop Boys and Spiritualized. In 2009, he was named a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI) by the Royal Society of Arts.

Early life Farrow attended art college for a short time but quit to work in a Manchester design studio. He also worked at The Discount Record Shop in Manchester's Underground Market. With the advent of punk rock, the shop was frequented by clientele like Ben Kelly and Peter Saville, both connected to Factory Records and The Haçienda nightclub.

Design work In 1982, after befriending groups as part of the Manchester scene, Farrow was given the chance to design the cover for the 7-inch single "Fairy Tales" by the Stockholm Monsters, a Factory release. Throughout the early 80s, he designed experimental sleeves and posters for both Factory and The Haçienda, which placed him at the forefront of contemporary music graphic design. and other bands such as the space rock group Spiritualized. As the 12" vinyl went out of style, Farrow challenged contemporary notions of CD packaging. For Pet Shop Boys' 1993 release Very, Farrow designed an "orange Lego®" CD jewel box which is featured in the New York Museum of Modern Art. In the mid-90s, Farrow designed the cover for Everything Must Go (1996), the breakthrough album by the Manic Street Preachers. For Spiritualized's 1997 album Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space, he used an authentic tablet blister-pack which contained the CDs and accompanying text. For their 2001 release Let it Come Down, he included a 3-D, vacuum-formed face as part of the cover.

Farrow also works outside the music industry, for designers, photographers, publishers, and other industry projects. He has worked with Oliver Peyton on restaurants and bars, designed the cover of the 1999 Design and Art Direction annual, worked with SCP furniture on designing clocks, developed a packaging system for Levi's, collaborated with The Science Museum in London, and designed a yacht for Campers' Volvo Ocean Race.

His minimalist approach, and rigorous, precise attention to detail defines his aesthetic. He enjoys close, collaborative work.

Farrow also has four Grammy Award nominations, 10 Music Week CAD awards, and two Art Directors Club of Europe Gold Awards.