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.
It just so happens that all my favourite International covers for this week has a very strong ‘black & white’ look and feel to them. Maybe simple, basic and clean is still the most effective?
INTERNATIONAL
TIME, 7 May 2012
Very effective use of a simple graphic like flying helicopters, and simple words that stand in its way…
USED, Edition 3
USED is still relatively new (this only being their 3rd issue) and is a London based biannual publication. The striking crisp clear photograph of Marilyn Monroe appears on the limited edition cover, and not the main issue that is currently on sale. The strategically placed masthead is what’s really interesting to me. If you look at their previous covers, you’ll notice that all the mastheads are strategically placed on the persons mouth. It’s definiltely something unique, and something that works for them!
Arena Homme +, Spring/Summer 2012
If you look closely at this cover, you’ll notice that it looks like the picture was blown-up too big, showing the pixels and dots a picture is made up of when printed. It’s an intersting crop, interesting finishing on the picture, and the black & white, with a splash of colour is what got my attention.
LOCAL
Paris, 2012
The same guys that brough us a few creative ‘issues’ of MK Bruce Lee and MENU have released the 2nd issue of PARIS magazine. The layout and look and feel of all their products are always rather similar (negative in my mind), but they do always push the boundaries, and try new printing techniques and experiment a lot (positive in my mind). For this issue, the cover is unique because the colourful flap is over the picture on the left, and the masthead (usually printed ON the cover) is actually still a sticker that holds the flap closed.
Playboy, May 2012
Definitely not the right cover as we go into Winter here in South Africa, but I’m sure that the Playboy readers appreciate a bit of warming up thanks to the Playboy girls. Playboy is starting to get into their groove now (they got off to a rocky start…) and I like the way they’re playing with fonts and designs on the cover. The main coverlines on the side of the boat really struck me and I thought it was really well executed.
TASTE, May 2012
The bright colour and unique plating is what originally drew my attention to this cover, and then the sticker stating that the cover smells like Cinnamon… I immediately bought it, and as soon as I got into my car and opened it, my reading experience just added another sense to it! The Cinnamon smell is really strong, and great timing. What would have made it perfect, is if it was a pancake cover with a Cinnamon smell. Ah well, there’s always Winter again next year.
– 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