Barney Bubbles wasn’t just a designer – he was a visionary. His work brought colour, dynamism and a sense of bold expression to every project. He taught me that design isn’t just about aesthetics – it’s about emotion, energy and creating something that speaks to the heart. Raissa Pardini
This is the first in an occasional series of contemporary practitioners providing their thoughts on the continuing relevance of the work of Barney Bubbles.
Concert poster
From Tuscany and based in London after sojourns in Berlin and Glasgow, Pardini’s work expresses vibrancy and wit, showcasing her considerable talents as a multi-disclipinary designer who is also a radical typographer and joyous creative director.
Concert poster
‘Coming from a tiny town where nothing much ever happened, I took my first solo trip to London at 14,’ said Pardini recently. ‘I quickly learned the art of sneaking into Trash and the indie clubs, full of makeup and nerves, hoping no one would clock my age. Back in Italy, all I could think about was being involved in music. I hustled my way into a local radio station, then hit the national ones, eventually landing my own show.
Record sleeves
‘I played bass with local pals in their garages, spinning records just to secure a couch to crash on after gigs—most of which I seemed to be attending alone. Getting my driver’s license was a game-changer, as it meant I no longer depended on others for rides to gigs. By then, I had built my own communities around different cities, and being part of the music scene became my lifeblood.
Concert poster
Magazine design
‘I was printing zines in my mom’s office, and that’s when I discovered my love for design too.’
Book designs
As her portfolio shows, Pardini’s designs are collected by the V&A and she has worked with major brands and bands from MTV and Nike to Blur and The Rolling Stones but retains a street-level engagement having DJed live and on radio stations, played in such groups as Loaded and collaborated with the amazing likes of Yassassin and Cumgirl8 (who she manages – see below for a great promo directed by Leah Hennessey featuring a Susan Sontag AI hologram – you have to sign in to watch it but it’s worth it).
This is Barney Bubbles’ copy of one of the books which not only advanced graphic design practice in the 1960s but was also to leave a major mark on him and his future output.
++ Armed Forces front cover from the 2020 box set reissue ++
Sad to note the death last month at the age of 69 of the intriguing artist Tim (sometimes Tom) Pogson, whose work notably included the incredible pastiche of the popular wildlife painter David Shepherd for the front cover of Elvis Costello & The Attractions’ 1979 album Armed Forces.
Here is exclusive film from the specialist printers which is handling the making of the forthcoming limited edition A Box of Bubbles.
Just 500 copies of A Box of Bubbles will be published this summer; it contains a unique hard cover version of the new monograph The Wild World World of Barney Bubbles along with a folio of reproductions of the late graphic genius’s most innovative and eye-catching artworks.
As this shows, A Box of Bubbles is presented in a clothbound pink solander box, featuring a screen-printed design taken from Barney Bubbles’ legendary artwork for Ian Dury and The Blockheads’ hit single Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick/There Ain’t Half Been Some Clever Bastards.
//The clothbound box features screen-printed artwork on the cover and measures 280 x 230mm//
Here are some production shots from the making of the forthcoming limited edition A Box Of Bubbles, which houses the new Barney Bubbles monograph and an exclusive folio set of highlights from the designer’ career.
Welcome to the online celebration of the late graphic genius Barney Bubbles, spanning his extraordinary designs for music, including record sleeves, posters, advertising and ephemera, as well as art direction of books, the underground press and music magazines and his landmark promo videos, private paintings and furniture pieces.
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