MarkLives.com runs a regular slot featuring the best local and international magazine covers every week. We recognise well thought out, powerful and interesting (and hopefully all three in one) magazine covers and celebrate the mix of pragmatism, creativity and personal taste that created each of them. By media blogger MediaSlutZA. This will be his last update for 2011 but he will be back in 2012 with more fantastic magazine covers to share!
INTERNATIONAL
Vanity Fair, December 2011
She’s done it before in September 2010, and it looks like she’s going to do it again for Vanity Fair, namely be one of their best sellers of the year! With her 2010 cover she made the September issue of Vanity Fair its 2nd best seller (http://www.hollywire.com/2011/01/lady-gaga-2010s-best-selling-magazine-cover). No wonder they featuring her again… This time with make-up and a bright red dress – just in time for Christmas [that hat is bound to inspire a meme – Ed].
AdWeek, 28 November – 4 December
The now instantaneously recognizable little boy in the Volkswagen Ad, that has raked up more than 44 million views on YouTube, makes him the perfect little cover guy/icon for the “10 Best Ads of 2011” issue. To view all Top 10 ads click here. I promise you, definitely worth a watch.
Fricote, #5
A fun and quirky food magazine with unique and smart covers. Their covers definitely follow a trend to be unique and different.
LOCAL
Mango Juice, December 2011
I’ve been noticing the covers of Mango’s in-flight magazine for a while now, and they’re definitely doing something right without trying too hard. At first I thought this was a digitally manipulated sand castle, but the description of how it was built in Durban, and all the drama that went with him (Read a minute-by-minute update here) makes one appreciate this art form just a bit more.
Plascon Spaces, #6
This cover makes me feel like I’m back in Greece on a small island. It just screams sexy and summer. I saw it in store and the striking gold logo makes this cover even more striking.
Finweek, 1 December 2011
The treatment of the cover, the cover lines, the clean background with its striking image; everything just makes this cover and issue worth picking up.
– The (for now anonymous) blogger behind MediaSlutZA knows way too much for his own good about media in South Africa. Magazines in particular. His mission is to show when South African magazines might fail, but most importantly, succeed. If you’re looking for a library about South African magazines and news, your one-stop pitstop is MediaSlutZA. #MagazinesForTheWin
– Find a cover we should know about? Tweet us @marklives and @mediaslutza
Completely selfish comment but it is satisfying to see Finweek getting some design kudos from time to time. Appreciate the post!
Keep up the great work Marc & team! You are setting the pace in terms of cover design in the business press in South Africa!
Mangos inflight mag has been on top form for a while now, i travel locally often and always find myself reading it, great mag, great content, keep up the amazing work guys and girls.
If you looked at the headline you would notice it says “Magazine covers we love (this week).” So let me break it down for you. Magazine covers. We love. This week. Not magazine news we love this week. Although that isn’t a bad idea for a new section.