From ChatGPT on the history/band's thoughts on the album cover:

Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” cover—designed by the late Storm Thorgerson and his Hipgnosis studio—delivers several layers of meaning that tie directly to the band’s vision for the album. Although interpretations abound, a few key points are well-documented:

Prism and Light Refraction

The iconic triangular prism refracting white light into a spectrum was chosen to reflect Pink Floyd’s stage lighting and the band’s reputation for visually striking shows. Thorgerson cited the band’s request for a “simple and bold” cover. The prism visual achieves that clarity while hinting at how something plain (white light) can be transformed into a myriad of possibilities (the rainbow).

Triangular Symbolism

Triangles are often linked to ambition, exploration, and a sense of balance—all recurring concepts within the record’s lyrics and themes. Pink Floyd members liked the stark geometry, which contrasts with the more surreal covers of previous albums.

Connection to Album Themes

The record addresses topics like mental stress, greed, time, and the pressure of modern life. The clean, scientific look of a prism splits one thing into many—much as the pressures of life can fragment a person’s psyche. It also underscores the idea of illumination or revelation, suggesting that when you examine something more closely (light, life, or consciousness), you might uncover hidden depths and colors.

Simplicity and Memorability

The minimal design was a departure from the over-the-top collages typical of 1970s album covers. This directness helped forge an immediate visual identity and let the music’s themes speak for themselves. Although fans have since woven countless personal interpretations into the prism—ranging from metaphors about human perception to cosmic or philosophical readings—the band and design team generally describe it as a neat, impactful symbol of illumination, unity, and the hidden complexity behind everyday phenomena.