Laurence Stevens

Visionary graphic designer behind music’s most iconic visuals

Laurence-Stevens

The visual architect of Eurythmics’ sonic universe
Laurence Stevens’ most enduring and celebrated collaboration is with Eurythmics and its members Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. His partnership with the band began in 1982 when he was commissioned to design the sleeve for their single Love Is a Stranger. That project marked the beginning of a decades-long creative alliance that would define the visual language of one of pop music’s most innovative acts.
Stevens became the band’s official designer and art director, responsible for the sleeves of all ten Eurythmics studio albums and over thirty singles. His designs for Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), Touch, Be Yourself Tonight, and Savage are now considered iconic—combining stark photography, experimental typography, and symbolic motifs that mirrored the band’s evolving sound and aesthetic.
He continued to work with Annie Lennox on her solo albums Diva and Medusa, crafting visuals that captured her theatrical elegance and emotional depth. For Dave Stewart, Stevens provided art direction on solo projects and collaborations, maintaining a cohesive visual thread that tied back to the Eurythmics legacy.
One of Stevens’ most notable contributions was the design for Peace, Eurythmics’ final studio album, which featured photographs by Richard Avedon. The sleeve’s minimalist yet powerful imagery reflected the album’s themes of reconciliation and introspection.
Stevens’ work with Eurythmics wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was about creating a visual mythology that matched the band’s sonic experimentation. His designs helped shape how audiences perceived the music, turning album covers into cultural artifacts.

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Laurence Stevens is a British graphic designer and artist whose work has left an indelible mark on the visual identity of popular music. Born in the UK and graduating from the London College of Printing in 1982 with a BA in Graphic Design, Stevens was deeply influenced by punk rock, Kraftwerk, Bauhaus design, and black-and-white photography. These inspirations shaped his distinctive style—bold typography, stark imagery, and a flair for visual storytelling.
Early in his career, Stevens was a founding member and original drummer of the synth-pop band Blancmange, reflecting his deep connection to music beyond design. He later established his own studio, 1939 Design, which began in his father’s dining room and grew into a powerhouse of album artwork and creative direction.
Over the decades, Stevens has designed record sleeves, tour merchandise, and marketing campaigns for a wide range of artists including Morrissey, Muse, Bob Dylan, and Sleeper. His collaborations with world-renowned photographers such as Richard Avedon, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, and Nick Knight have elevated his work to the realm of fine art. His designs have been featured in publications like Creative Review, British Vogue, and Design Week, and have appeared in exhibitions across Europe.
Stevens continues to work across music, fashion, and fine art, creating visuals that are as emotionally resonant as they are graphically striking.

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