VINYL DESIGN CHANGE MY LIFE

Hi everyone at Steemit, in 1975 when I was a second year student studying Graphic Design in ITM, I came across an album by PINK FLOYD - WISH YOU WERE HERE. I was fascinated by the design of the album which was design by the late Mr Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis.

It was the first vinyl that I bought just because of the cover design (I don't have a player at that time). I study the design in and out, the layout, the photography and it was the same time I decided to be a Vinyl Album Designer.

I was advised by my senior, to go to the record company and do some research. During this time there are only two international record company - EMI & Philip.

I go GaGa see a lot of vinyl cover being display on the wall and the amount of vinyl laying around the company.

I said this is the career that I want.

Upon graduate in 1978 I join EMI as a designer. In 1979 I was asked by the management to design a cover for a new group called CAREFREE. It's not a fantastic vinyl cover design by I cherished a lot because it is my first design.

From that day I never look back.

To date I have designed more that 300 vinyl and cd covers and last two days I again was asked to design a cover for a Metal Group.

Last year I decided to published a book on vinyls and cd's cover design done by me. It was called 12x12 ALBUM COVER DESIGN BY TAPA. A lot of people asked what is 12x12? It's actually a size for vinyl cover which is 12.4 inches (square) and CD cover size is 12.2 cm (square). This is a good reference book on design, fashion, and music for the past 3 decades.

In next posting I will select one particular cover and I explain and discuss how I work on the cover.

This book is available for sale.!

And starting last Monday 5th March, Galeri Shah Alam decide to hold an exhibition on my vinyl and cd cover design. The exhibition is one month long and will be launched on the 14th March. This is my second exhibition on the book.

Everyone is invited and admission is FREE. Wish me success guys.

Below are some of the works on display at Galeri Shah Alam

Me with the gallery curator En Ibrahim Bujal and my buddy Mr Daryl Goh from Star newspaper who been supporting and giving me publicity on the book and the exhibition.