Magazine cover design combines striking visuals with text and the publication's brand identity. Iconic titles are synonymous with their often equally iconic front covers. Magazine design can become a collector's item, even framed artwork, capturing a moment in history as a visual representation of the zeitgeist.
Magazine illustrators and magazine cover artists can interpret and represent themes in a captivating, visual manner. This imagery is subsequently complemented or even enhanced by supporting text and titles. So identifiable are some magazines by their cover style that they barely require their titles on their covers.
Journals, periodicals and magazine cover designs are by their nature destined to be displaced upon the publication of the next issue. This almost ephemeral nature of illustration for magazine covers is distinctly different to books who, literally, enjoy a longer shelf life. The magazine cover design has to be high impact as it will be holding the reader’s attention for a limited timespan. For casual buyers, the front cover magazine design has to be captivating enough to encourage a purchase decision.
On the other hand, for the loyal subscriber, the magazine cover design reinforces their commitment to the publication. Either way, the magazine placed on one’s coffee table communicates a powerful message, a knowing nod to the reader’s identity, interests, values and status. Whilst the content of the issue is of course of paramount importance, it’s the magazine illustrators that encapsulate an issue’s theme whilst staying under the umbrella of the title’s brand identity.
Working on a magazine cover that you think our artists could help with? Get in touch for a conversation with our team.
