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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 MediaSlut.

I love countdowns! Best of this. Worst of that. Richest people. Newsmakers of the Year. Car of the Year. List it and I’ll read that article. So I’m especially thrilled to  present to you a countdown of the Top 10 South African covers for 2012 as selected by Mediaslut.

As we move towards the end of the year it is the perfect time to give a round-up of what happened on magazine covers over the past 12 months…

Remember that you can leave a comment to let us know if you agree, or think we totally missed the mark…

Next week: Our Top 10 International magazine covers
Dec 21: The 10 worst magazine covers of 2012!

10. Runner’s World South Africa, March 2012


At first glance there doesn’t seem that much to this cover at all. But when you turn the cover you see a very smart execution by BMW that just works so well and adds a whole new dimension to the front cover. A worthy 10th place for smart thinking and successful execution.

9. NewsNow, 29 March 2012

One of the stronger covers of now deceased NewsNow magazine. Clever image sourcing of President Jacob Zuma and his compound house on fire. Simply designed but very effective all together.

8. Advantage, June 2012

A very proudly South African and proudly Cape Town cover by local design agency Just Design for AdVantage magazine. It includes multiple iconic Cape Town specific  images and design-aspects.

7. Sports Illustrated, September 2012

If there was an award for best Sports Cover I would award it to Sports Illustrated South Africa for this September 2012 cover. It’s a great concept, play on words/names and the end result is just fantastic.

6. Woolworths TASTE, May 2012 

The shocking pink, the styling, the props used (with the eyes looking back at you) – everything just works on this cover. But what really took it to the next level was that this was a Scratch-and-sniff cover with a Cinnamon smell!

5. Rolling Stone South Africa, February 2012

Rolling Stone South Africa did the mother brand proud with this great family portrait of “Zef’s First Family.”  The whole package just screams attitude and ‘we just don’t give a flying frikkadel’! It also went viral and landed on dozens of international blogs and music websites .

4. British Airways High Life South Africa, July 2012

The British Airways High Life magazine covers have really all been just been world-class the past few months. When I saw this cover for the first time I kept staring at all the detail and intricacy that went into making this cover really come alive.

3. Where it’s at (HERE), Design Indaba 2012

 

This is one of those titles/magazines/books/items/works of art that can’t really be explained in words, but has to be seen and touched and experienced to understand the extent of just how smart and unique it all is…

The issue was guest edited by Richard Hart and designed by Disturbance. Where It’s At is the first in a series of limited editions inspired by Design Indaba magazine. When you open the cover  it unfolds into a massive map of Africa with the name “Where it’s At” printed on it. When you fold it back, the cut outs spell “HERE”.

2. i Magazine (City Press), 14 October 2012

 

At number two is this cover from i Magazine carried by City Press. This cover has so much oomph and gravitas. The simplicity of the black and white (striking) image with blood red text and cover lines that contribute to the message of the story all combines to make a great cover.

1. Getaway, September 2012

And my number  one cover for 2012 goes to Getaway magazine and the whole Getaway team. They took Rhino Poaching awareness to a whole new level with their September 2012 issue. They also did something very unique with the Editor’s Letter (You can read more about it all here). The Getaway team has produced amazing covers consistently but this one is the best of the whole year.

– The (for now anonymous) blogger behind MediaSlut 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 MediaSlut. #MagazinesForTheWin

– Find a cover we should know about? Tweet us @marklives and @mediaslut
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