# Sheffield studio The Designers Republic marks 40 years with archive sale

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/we-didnt-care-what-the-client-wanted-sheffields-designers-republic-on-their-art-for-aphex-twin-pulp-and-pringles/
- Published: 2026-07-23T05:00:16+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-23T11:12:21+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/jul/23/sheffield-designers-republic-aphex-twin-pulp-pringles-ian-anderson
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Fashion, Music, UK, World

## Key points

- Sheffield's The Designers Republic marks 40 years with an archive sale
- Founder Ian Anderson, 65, now runs the influential design studio solo
- TDR's work spans Aphex Twin, Pulp, Coca-Cola, Wipeout and Pringles

## Summary

The Sheffield design studio The Designers Republic (TDR) is marking its 40th anniversary by selling original pieces from its archive, such as flyers and stickers, and launching a new merchandise line, according to founder Ian Anderson. Set up almost accidentally in 1986 by Anderson and Nick Phillips, TDR became one of the most influential forces in UK design, shaping the visual identity of the music scene with a bold, maximalist style before its influence spread into video games and global branding.

Anderson, now 65 and running the firm alone, has kept five copies of everything TDR has produced, building an archive so large that he calls it "a private museum that nobody visits – not even me". The studio's work has spanned record covers and logos for acts including Aphex Twin, Autechre, Pulp and Nine Inch Nails, packaging and campaigns for Coca-Cola, Adidas and Pringles, and design for video games such as Wipeout and Grand Theft Auto, with pieces now held by MoMA and the V&A; Anderson notes some collectors have gone to extreme lengths, including one who remortgaged his house twice, to acquire the studio's output.

## Coverage

- [The Guardian: Sheffield studio The Designers Republic marks 40 years with archive sale](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/jul/23/sheffield-designers-republic-aphex-twin-pulp-pringles-ian-anderson)
- [🔎 Sheffield: ‘We didn’t care what the client wanted!’: Sheffield’s Designers Republic on their art for Aphex Twin, Pulp … and Pringles - The Guardian](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxPUVBIZ3JzVlQtMEJkbE0wc2V2OVZELTBIbDdQRk51aS1DU1BOOWlTaU5KeGVvYkJRNTFiOThZbE1rVE81bjB5R2NqTy1PVzNCMTRoR1JSQ0Y1YXZMUXYxQzJ2VmZfaTJRZVlQdkVYVkJBeVcxWlI0Zy04VGtUR1NSd282aVhqVWhDZ1dIUFVueHRMN3pPV2JiY3pFcXI1Q2R1R3lNUXJpMHdGWkZEdXlkQldGMjFmbTQwMDNz?oc=5)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.