Iconic New Order by Howard Wakefield
For August's issue of Clash magazine, I was asked to create an image to celebrate 30 years of New Order. I have been fortunate enough to design (with Peter Saville) New Order sleeves for 20 of those years and this was a real honour. But one image to illustrate 30 years of 'New Order'? When I think about imagery and New Order, I instantly think of all the sleeves; Joy Division and New Order sleeves are often referred to as being iconic designs, but rather than showing a montage of them, which have been much seen, admired and recognised, I wondered how recognisable are they?

I was curious to find out, if I reduced them in some way, could they still be recognisable?

I tried blurring and distorting them, but they rapidly became something else, however by simplifying them to their basic colour elements, they appeared to remain true to their iconic designs.

I found I could reduce them a great deal - so far in fact to just 9 simple squares - and ironically, this reducing reminded me of today's requirement to design a sleeve that can work as a tiny 'thumbnail' to be used on iTunes rather than the expanse we once enjoyed with a 12 inch record sleeve.

As a set, I am delighted to still 'see' all the sleeves. It is great fun flicking from the squares to the photographic versions. And my favourite? The last one - there is something poetic about reducing 'Sirens' to become almost… 'lost'.