Nagel first put his talents to work as a freelance artist; then in 1971,  he joined ABC-TV where he produced television graphics for promotion and news broadcasts. In 1976, Nagel began contributing regularly to Playboy, which extended the exposure and popularity of 'the Nagel Woman' to a huge and loyal audience. In 1978, he created his first poster image for Mirage Editions. He also painted the cover of rock group Duran Duran's Rio album, which became the number one album in the world.