The Team Founding Partner and former Creative Director Rick Ward on the creation of the iconic Beatles Anthology design.

In 1995, I was invited to design and art direct The Beatles Anthology, having previously worked on their album for Live at the BBC. The lessons learned on projects like this would, a year later, shape my work when our agency, The Team, was asked to work on further releases such as Buena Vista Social Club and The Beatles’ 1 album.

The Beatles Anthology was the largest music project ever attempted by The Beatles and EMI: three double albums, covering their entire recording career, released across every major format of the time. The Anthology was conceived as the definitive statement, the band telling their own story and setting the record straight. The concept was conceived as an artist’s painting, a ‘masterpiece’ and a rediscovery of ‘their art’.  

“Rick Ward created a timeless design for the historical Beatles Anthology series through sheer diligence and patience. If ever experience was required to resolve monumental hurdles and complex issues, this was it.” - Tommy Steele, Vice President of Design at Capitol Records. 

I had always considered their music and lyrics as works of art, so that was my starting point. The idea was for the project to literally be a work of art that could be divided up into 3 sections, that charted and reflected their career - giving equal presence to all four members. The challenge was to come up with a piece of artwork that could be reproduced as A1, followed by A2 then finally A3. 

To realise this, we invited six artists, each with their own creative connection to the band, to respond to the brief. Among them was Klaus Voormann. His concept immediately stood out: a torn-paper collage, into a textured timeline of their evolution. It perfectly captured the album and importantly, it allowed us to work with pre-approved imagery, which was vital, because literally everything had to be unanimously approved by each individual Beatle before it could move forward.  

Klaus later decided to take the idea further, transforming the collage into a painted work that retained its layered quality but added more depth. Together, we developed the vision by using the idea of a large Billboard poster on the side off a ‘fictitious' concert Hall they had played at from the beginning to the end of their recording career. It became both an artwork and a metaphor for their legacy. 

Logistically, the schedule was intense. The release dates were tied to major deals and couldn’t move. To keep production on track, I created a strict matrix for Klaus to work to, dividing the overall composition into three equal sections.  

A small but defining design touch came on the back covers. Since the concept revolved around a “work of art,” I chose to show the reverse of the canvas, as a teaser for the pre-release marketing. It gave the sense of seeing a masterpiece in progress, an artist’s work evolving before your eyes, while also serving as a teaser for what was to come. This gave Klaus much needed time, between each release date to then go on to do the second image, and then finally the third completed image.  

Looking back, The Beatles Anthology wasn’t just about nostalgia; it was about creating something truly timeless. The project combined creative ambition and meticulous planning to produce artwork that not only captured the spirit of the music but also respected the logistical challenges of a global release.  

Timeless design, as this project demonstrates, should be evocative and do exactly what it promises: clearly communicate the essence of the album while enhancing its content. At its best, it supports the music in every way, while also delivering what the fans want. In this case, the Anthology covers became more than album artwork; they became a lasting record of the band and the artistry that shaped music history. 

With over 30 years in the industry, Rick Ward has collaborated with like-minded designers from all over the globe. A founding partner of The Team, Rick’s portfolio includes identity programmes for McLaren Cars and Lamborghini, as well as corporate communications for Microsoft, English Heritage and of course, The Beatles. In 1997, Rick was nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Historic Album Design for The Beatles’ ‘Live at the BBC’.