The punk movement of the 70s has influenced not just the music scene, but also the graphic design and art scene. The art of that time featured a do-it-yourself approach and anti-establishment sentiments of the rough, unrefined rock music popular during that era. The designs exude a sense of rawness, whether it is the overall look or the means of the production.

Some designers during the Punk era went to art school. Notables are Jamie Reid and Malcolm McLaren. However, majority of the artists during that time didn’t have any formal training in graphic design. But the practitioners had a few things in common: a passion for music, a camera, a pen and a pair of scissors. Just like the bands they followed, these visual artists used cheap instruments to create their art. Their finish products were often described as edgy and rough.

During the Punk period, the most popular forms of music art were fanzines and album covers. Bands created music with inexpensive instruments and pressed their own records. They churned out fanzines reproduced through photocopiers. Their albums were sold at gigs and independent stores, and often featured hand printed covers. The artists were given the freedom to create whatever they like. That’s why Punk cover art was considered provocative, crass, or the combination of the two.

If you find yourself in London, head over to the British Library and check out the exhibit highlighting visual media from the punk period. The exhibit is part of Punk London Festival––a year-long series of exhibitions and events celebrating the creativity of that era. It runs from January 2016 to January 2017.

There's a dazzling wall of album covers, ranging from the Sex Pistol's "Anarchy in the UK" to Stretcher Case Baby's "The Damned." It's an incredible exhibition for Generation X-ers who want to relive their punk years, or for Millennials who want to know more about that scene.

If you can’t go to the library, you can <a href="http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/graphic-design/how-punk-changed-design/" target="_blank">head here</a> to view the popular album covers and fanzine art from that notorious era.